USAID Staff Placed on Leave amid Government Downsizing Efforts

Wednesday 05 February 2025 - 08:06

The U.S. government has directed the majority of its directly-hired employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to take leave, as part of a broader initiative to significantly reduce the size of federal agencies. Starting Friday, only staff responsible for critical operations, key leadership roles, and specific designated programs will remain active, according to an official statement.

USAID also announced that personnel assigned abroad will be recalled within 30 days. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like personal or family hardships, safety concerns, medical needs, pregnancy, or the academic schedules of dependents. Detailed instructions for requesting exemptions will be provided soon.

Employing over 10,000 individuals—two-thirds of whom are based overseas—USAID now faces potential structural changes as discussions continue within the administration about merging the agency's functions into the Department of State. When questioned about this shift, the President responded affirmatively, suggesting that the agency’s operations may be phased out.

The current acting administrator of USAID has confirmed these developments. The agency, which managed over half of the U.S.’s $72 billion foreign aid budget in 2023, has been targeted as part of a cost-cutting campaign led by a prominent tech executive heading the Department of Government Efficiency. The campaign has sparked criticism, with opponents arguing that dissolving USAID through executive action violates constitutional provisions, given that the agency was established through congressional legislation.