The Trump administration has announced a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), placing all directly hired employees on administrative leave and initiating the recall of thousands of overseas personnel.
According to an official announcement posted on USAID’s website—currently offline since the weekend—direct hire staff will be placed on leave globally as of Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Certain personnel responsible for mission-critical functions and leadership roles will be exempt.
USAID, which employs over 10,000 staff across more than 60 country and regional missions, will coordinate the return of overseas personnel with the State Department. The agency has pledged to cover travel costs for affected staff within 30 days, with case-by-case exceptions for personal hardship and security concerns.
The decision follows President Donald Trump’s broader push to integrate USAID into the State Department, effectively dismantling it as an independent entity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, now the acting head of USAID, has accused the agency of being “completely unresponsive” and signaled a major restructuring, with parts of the agency potentially absorbed or abolished.
Trump’s efforts to curtail foreign aid intensified after he froze most U.S. assistance on January 20, instructing billionaire Elon Musk to downsize the agency. USAID-funded humanitarian programs—including those for women’s health, clean water, HIV/AIDS treatment, and anti-corruption initiatives—have already been disrupted. The U.S. accounted for 42% of all UN-tracked humanitarian aid in 2024, disbursing $72 billion globally in 2023.
The restructuring has sparked internal chaos, with staff put on leave, contractors laid off, and USAID’s implementing partners facing financial strain due to stop-work orders. While some emergency aid waivers have been issued, uncertainty looms over the agency’s future.
Essential personnel expected to continue working will be notified by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00 p.m. (EST).
