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The Trump administration announced Sunday that nearly all personnel at USAID—except for leadership and essential staff—would be placed on paid administrative leave, with 1,600 positions in the U.S. set for elimination.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has spearheaded efforts to significantly scale back the U.S. Agency for International Development, the primary channel for American foreign aid and a key instrument of U.S. diplomacy.
“I regret to inform you that you are affected by a Reduction in Force action,” read an email sent to an impacted employee, reviewed by Reuters. Those receiving the notification will officially exit federal service on April 24, according to the message.
A statement on USAID’s website confirmed that just before midnight on Sunday, Eastern Time, all direct hires—except for essential personnel—would be placed on leave. Additionally, 1,600 U.S.-based USAID employees are set to be cut.
An earlier internal memo, also reviewed by Reuters, indicated that the total number of eliminated positions could reach 2,000.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Friday, a federal judge ruled in favour of the Trump administration’s decision to place thousands of USAID employees on leave, dealing a blow to government employee unions that have challenged the move as an attempt to dismantle the agency.
Two former high-ranking USAID officials estimated that most of the agency’s approximately 4,600 employees—including Civil Service and Foreign Service staff—would be placed on administrative leave.
“This administration and Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio are shortsighted in cutting into the expertise and unique crisis response capacity of the U.S.,” said Marcia Wong, a former senior USAID official. “When disease outbreaks occur, populations displaced, these USAID experts are on the ground and first deployed to help stabilize and provide aid.”
Shortly after taking office on January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day suspension of foreign aid, effectively halting funding for a wide range of programs—from combating starvation and deadly diseases to providing shelter for millions of displaced individuals worldwide.
The administration has since granted exemptions totalling $5.3 billion, largely for security and counter-narcotics initiatives, according to a list of approved exceptions reviewed by Reuters. However, USAID programs received less than $100 million in exemptions—compared to the approximately $40 billion the agency managed annually before the freeze.
