Thousands of USAID staff recalled as Trump reshapes agency

Robert Besser
10 Feb 2025, 13:33 GMT+10

The Trump administration put all USAID employees on leave worldwide and recalled thousands of staff from overseas
USAID has over 10,000 employees, with about two-thirds working abroad in more than 60 country offices
The U.S. government will cover travel costs for returning staff within 30 days, with exceptions considered for personal hardship or safety concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration put all USAID employees on leave worldwide and recalled thousands of staff from overseas.

"On February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally," said an announcement on the USAID website, which has been down since the weekend.

USAID has over 10,000 employees, with about two-thirds working abroad in more than 60 country offices. The U.S. government will cover travel costs for returning staff within 30 days, with exceptions considered for personal hardship or safety concerns.

Thank you for your service," the announcement finished.

This major shake-up comes as President Trump moves to merge USAID with the State Department, potentially dismantling it as an independent agency. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, now acting head of USAID, criticized the agency's responsiveness.

Trump had already frozen most U.S. foreign aid on January 20, saying he wanted to align it with his "America First" policy. He tasked billionaire Elon Musk, who has accused USAID of corruption, with scaling down its operations.

The sudden changes have disrupted hundreds of aid programs, putting USAID partners in financial trouble. Emergency assistance waivers have been issued for some life-saving programs.

In 2023, the U.S. provided US$72 billion in global aid, supporting health, clean water, energy security, and anti-corruption efforts. This funding, which makes up less than one percent of the U.S. budget, plays a key role in diplomacy and countering rivals like China and Russia.

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