The Trump administration announced that almost all employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) around the world would be put on paid leave. Additionally, around 1,600 positions in the US would be permanently cut. The decision, explained in a notice sent to agency employees and shared online, represents a major change in U.S. foreign aid policy and has faced strong criticism from former officials and advocacy groups.

“As of 11.59 pm EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and/or specially designated programmes, will be placed on administrative leave globally,” read the notice. At the same time, the organisation announced that it would carry out a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) that would impact around 1,600 USAID staff members who are based out of the United States. On Friday, a federal judge supported the government's decision to put thousands of USAID workers on leave. This ruling was a setback for unions that had sued to stop the cuts, claiming they were an effort to weaken the agency.

However, the announcement has faced strong opposition, especially from government employee unions and supporters of international aid. "Eliminating US unique response capacity... Of crisis experts who help contain disease outbreaks, stabilise displaced populations – a shortsighted, high risk, and frankly, stupid act," wrote Marcia Wong, a former senior USAID official, on X after the announcement. Speaking anonymously to Reuters, another former official noted that the unsigned notification was not self-implementing and that full execution would necessitate follow-up human actions.  

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, known for advocating government efficiency, has been pushing for major staff cuts. As part of this effort, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is leading a broad downsizing initiative. Musk even stated on social media that he was “feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” emphasising his commitment to streamlining operations. Furthermore, the restructuring is being led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was named by President Donald Trump as interim USAID administrator earlier this month. After returning to office, Trump issued an executive order that temporarily halted foreign aid funding for 90 days. This pause impacted various programs, including those addressing hunger, infectious diseases, and displacement crises worldwide. While the administration has approved $5.3 billion in exemptions for security and anti-drug efforts, USAID programs have received less than $100 million. This is only a small portion of the approximately $40 billion they managed each year before the freeze.

Trump and his supporters, including Musk, have defended the cuts by arguing that the money was being wasted or poorly spent on foreign aid projects. The significant budget cuts to USAID, a key part of the U.S. government's global outreach, have raised concerns about its ability to provide humanitarian aid. Critics warn that reducing the agency’s staff and funding could weaken U.S. influence worldwide and slow down crisis response efforts. At the same time, this could create opportunities for other countries, especially China, to expand their influence. Meanwhile, advocacy groups and legal organizations are taking the government to court to challenge these decisions.