Almost all USAID staff to be placed on leave from February 7th
United States President Donald Trump has ordered that almost all directly-hired staff of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) be placed on leave from February 7th. This marks part of the Republican’s goal to dramatically shrink the government.
According to Al Jazeera on February 4th,Trump said “designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs” will be allowed to remain.
USAID employs over 10,000, around two-thirds of which are currently stationed overseas and will return from their postings within 30 days.
The organisation will be considering case-by-case exceptions and extensions based upon “personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons”. They detailed some of these exceptions in a statement: “For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.”
The announcement came as Trump considers abolishing the agency altogether, assigning all of its functions to the US Department of State.
When asked by a reporter on February 4th if he was beginning to “wind down” USAID Trump replied, “I think so.”
USAID, was responsible for dispersing over half of Washington’s $72bn foreign aid budget in 2023, and is the target of the cost-cutting initiative led by unelected tech billionaire Elon Musk acting in his role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
Previously Musk described USAID as a “criminal organisation”, launching claims that the agency is a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America”.
Criticism has been levelled at Trump and Musk, suggesting they are acting beyond their authority, as dismantling USAID through executive action could be described as unconstitutional due to the agency being initially established by an act of Congress.
At the same time, as cutting aid to foreign countries, Trumps government is taking military action overseas, on February 2nd he approved an order to launch airstrikes in Somalia, in attempt to target Islamic State figures.
Al Jazeera, Maghrebi, The Guardian
