The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to lay off employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). According to this, only 300 employees will be retained in USAID.
According to American media reports, Trump’s plan is being seen as a possibility that USAID will almost be terminated.
Currently, USAID has 8,000 employees and contractors. In addition, more than 5,000 local employees are also working abroad. The situation is not clear about this. It is also not yet clear whether this layoff is permanent or a temporary plan.
The Trump administration is reviewing which USAID aid and development programs it will continue.
Orders were given to send back employees serving abroad.
The Trump administration has ordered USAID staff deployed abroad to return. They have been given 30 days from today. The government will bear the cost of the employees’ return. If an employee stays abroad for more than the specified time for any reason, he will have to bear his own expenses.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the US will continue foreign aid. However, it will be given with American interests in mind.
The American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees have filed a lawsuit in a Washington court against Trump’s decision. In this, Trump has been accused of disregarding American workers, national interests, and the lives of people around the world.
On the other hand, Democratic Party lawmakers have called ending USAID without Congressional approval illegal.
Trump puts USAID officials on leave
Several employees, including two top officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), were placed on leave on February 1. These included agency director John Voorhees and deputy director Brian McGill.
According to a CNN report, these officials were denying access to the agency’s systems to employees of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
DOGE employees attempted to enter USAID headquarters but were stopped outside. The employees threatened to call law enforcement marshals if they were not given access to the system.
DOGE employees were seeking access to USAID’s security systems and personnel files. This is classified information, according to the report.
This can only be seen by those who have permission to do so. However, they later managed to enter the headquarters.
Claim- Entered secret places, obtained personal information of citizens
CNN claimed in its report that DOGE employees entered secret USAID sites without security clearance and obtained confidential information on citizens. Trump DOGE appointee Katie Miller also confirmed the infiltration of DOGE employees on Sunday.
Katie posted on X, explaining that no confidential material can be accessed without permission. On the other hand, Musk posted on X and wrote,
USAID is a criminal organization. It’s time to shut it down.
USAID website, social media shut down
The USAID website went down on Saturday itself. Instead, a USAID page has been added to the US State Department website. The agency’s X account was also closed on Saturday.
After taking the oath of office on January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on all aid to foreign countries. Trump has already signed the relevant executive order.