Thousands of employees affected by Trump administration’s cuts
Thousands of employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been fired or placed on leave as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the agency. According to The Associated Press, affected employees were given just 15 minutes to clear their workstations.
The administration, in collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-chaired by Elon Musk, is leading a push to reduce the size of the federal government and cut spending. On Monday, USAID placed 4,080 employees on leave, while an additional 1,600 were laid off.
Massive budget cuts and congressional concerns
The Trump administration has announced plans to slash more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts. While Congress has not formally opposed the move, a report from the Congressional Research Service states that abolishing or restructuring USAID requires congressional approval.
The exact number of impacted employees at USAID’s Washington headquarters remains unclear. However, a notice on USAID’s website states that employees stationed elsewhere will be given a chance to retrieve their personal belongings later.
Strict guidelines for retrieval of personal items
According to the notice, laid-off employees must return all USAID-issued assets, while those placed on leave can retain them, including diplomatic passports, until they are officially separated from the agency.
The notice specifies that affected employees will have 15 minutes to clear their workstations. It also prohibits them from bringing weapons, including firearms, “spear guns,” and “hand grenades.”
“Staff will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete this retrieval and must be finished removing items within their time slot only,” the notice states. However, limited flexibility may be granted under the approval of the Office of Security.
Legal battles and court intervention
Several lawsuits have been filed against the administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID, but attempts to halt the shutdown through legal action have so far been unsuccessful.
On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in frozen U.S. foreign aid, citing noncompliance with a previous court order. However, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked that order late Wednesday, with Chief Justice John Roberts stating that it would remain on hold until further review.
Backlash from lawmakers
Democratic Representative Gerald Connolly from Virginia condemned the move, calling it an “unwarranted and unprecedented attack” on USAID employees. He described USAID as “the world’s premier development and foreign assistance agency,” emphasizing its role in saving “millions of lives every year.”
