In brief
In a controversial move, the Trump administration will place most USAID employees on leave and lay off around 2,000 staff amid criticism of overseas spending.
The Trump administration is taking drastic steps to cut down on the number of workers at USAID, starting at midnight on Sunday when many employees will be placed on administrative leave. Approximately 2,000 people will also be laid off in a significant "reduction in force," according to an email from the Office of the Administrator that CBS News acquired. This comes after President Trump had earlier tried to remove thousands from USAID, but faced a legal setback. A federal judge put a temporary pause on those firings, but a recent ruling allowed the administration to proceed with its plan. Employees deemed "designated personnel" performing critical functions or holding leadership roles will not be affected, but it's uncertain how many fall under this category. Judge Carl Nichols ruled against employees who sought to halt the government's actions on Friday, marking a continuation of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce, driven by influential figures like billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Trump has voiced strong opposition to funds allocated for international aid, criticizing USAID publicly at a recent convention, declaring, "We've effectively ended the left-wing scam known as USAID." Musk has previously referred to USAID as a "criminal organization," although he has not provided evidence for his claims. With about 10,000 employees, a significant portion of which work abroad, USAID plans to fund voluntary return travel for overseas staff. Experts express concern about the potential impact of these cuts on global health and assistance, as many countries depend on USAID for aid.
