Trump Administration Streamlines USAID, Removing or Putting on Leave Almost All Staffers Worldwide

The Trump administration is set to reform the US Agency for International Development (USAID), firing or putting on leave nearly all workers around the globe, a move hailed by fiscal conservatives as a critical step towards ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars, Al Jazeera reports.

Effective Sunday evening, USAID has placed most employees on administrative leave, excluding essential personnel vital for core leadership, mission-critical functions, and designated programs. This action paves the way for a restructuring process, with around 1,600 US-based positions being eliminated. Affected individuals will receive notifications on February 23, 2025, outlining benefits and rights.

This strategic overhaul, spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, follows accusations of waste, fraud, and ideological bias within USAID. Musk, who has publicly criticized the agency for straying from its core mission and exhibiting a radical-left agenda, is committed to ensuring USAID operates efficiently and effectively.

The changes come after a US judge cleared the way for the Trump administration to proceed with its plan to recall USAID staffers from overseas, removing bureaucratic roadblocks to reform.

Supporters of the move argue that USAID, which disbursed over half of Washington’s $72 billion foreign aid budget in 2023, has become bloated and inefficient.