• The Trump administration is instituting a broad leave for USAID direct-hire staff globally.
• Nearly the entire workforce of the agency has been affected, with exceptions for essential roles.
• Thousands had previously lost their jobs as overseas programs faced a halt amid budget cuts.
• The decision is anticipated to cost millions in travel and relocation expenses.
• The American Foreign Service Association is preparing a legal counter to the move.

In a significant restructuring of America's foreign aid efforts, the Trump administration is placing nearly all U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) direct-hire staffers on leave worldwide, excluding only those deemed essential for mission-critical functions. A notice posted online indicates that affected workers have 30 days to return home, disrupting the agency's six-decade mission and global assistance framework.

This drastic measure marks one of the most significant proposals to consolidate USAID into the State Department, amidst a broader context of budget cuts implemented by the Trump administration. Since the imposition of a freeze on foreign assistance, many USAID employees have already been laid off, and a range of programs worldwide have been suspended.

The situation has been exacerbated by what has been described as a systematic dismantling of the agency by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which took USAID's website offline only to restore it later with minimal information regarding the workforce's future. Musk publicly remarked on the agency’s overhaul, illustrating the contentious interventions currently under the Trump administration.

This decision to place staff on leave will likely incur costs in the tens of millions for the U.S. government due to travel and relocation. Those on leave include foreign and civil service officers who are typically afforded legal protections against such actions. In response, the American Foreign Service Association announced that it is preparing legal action to challenge or halt the decision.

As families of USAID workers grapple with the implications of this announcement, many are faced with tough choices, such as pulling children out of school and determining what to do with their pets amid uncertain timelines for departure. Simultaneously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been on a tour through Central America, meeting with local USAID staff and praising their commitment, although his meetings have reportedly been off-limits to media.

Opposition from lawmakers underscores concerns that USAID, as an independent agency, cannot be disbanded without congressional oversight. The agency's online notice stipulates that only employees dedicated to core leadership and essential functions will remain operational. The message concluded with a formal “Thank you for your service,” shedding light on an unsettling transition for thousands of personnel.

For further details, refer to the original coverage by AP News, India Times, and The Guardian.