WASHINGTON — The Trump administration mentioned Sunday that it’s eliminating 2,000 positions on the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth and putting all however a fraction of different staffers worldwide on go away.
It comes after a federal choose on Friday allowed the administration to maneuver ahead with pulling 1000’s of USAID staffers off the job in the USA and world wide. U.S. District Choose Carl Nichols rejected pleas that got here in a lawsuit from workers to maintain quickly blocking the federal government’s plan.
“As of 11:59 p.m. 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 programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally,” in accordance with the notices despatched to USAID employees and seen by The Related Press.
On the similar time, the company mentioned it’s reducing the U.S.-based workforce by about 2,000 workers.
The transfer escalates a monthlong administration assault on the company that has closed its headquarters in Washington and shut down 1000’s of U.S. assist and growth packages worldwide following an effort to freeze overseas help. President Donald Trump and his chief cost-cutter, Elon Musk, contend the help and growth work is wasteful and furthers a liberal agenda.
Citing a giant concern for employees stationed abroad who’ve reported being minimize off from authorities communications, the notices say that “USAID is committed to keeping its overseas personnel safe. Until they return home, personnel will retain access to Agency systems and to diplomatic and other resources.”
The administration mentioned workers placed on go away abroad are anticipated to obtain “voluntary Agency-funded return travel” and different advantages.
Nichols, who was nominated by Trump, mentioned he had been “very concerned” about employees in high-risk areas left abroad with out entry to emergency communications. However he mentioned he has been reassured by the administration that employees would have entry to two-way radios that permit 24–7 communications in emergencies, in addition to a cellphone app with a “panic button.”
The choose mentioned the federal government’s statements persuaded him “that the risk posed to USAID employees who are placed on administrative leave while stationed abroad — if there is any — is far more minimal than it initially appeared.”
The notices of firings and leaves come on prime of USAID contractors receiving no-name kind letters of termination over the weekend, in accordance with copies that AP seen. The blanket nature of the notification letters to contractors, excluding the names of these receiving it, might make it troublesome for the dismissed employees to get unemployment advantages, employees famous.
