Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration is eliminating approximately 2,000 positions within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
• Most USAID personnel will be placed on paid administrative leave, except for critical staff.
• This move is part of an ongoing restructuring led by the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk.

In a significant move, the Trump administration announced on February 23 that it will eliminate about 2,000 positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (Reuters), impacting predominantly those based in the United States. According to a notice reviewed by reporters, the majority of USAID employees worldwide, except for essential personnel, will be placed on paid administrative leave as part of this reduction-in-force action.

Billionaire Elon Musk's newly formed Department of Government Efficiency is spearheading the initiative, which has raised concerns among critics who view it as a step toward gutting USAID, a key arm of U.S. soft power used to deliver foreign assistance. A federal judge's recent ruling has facilitated this transition, allowing the administration to place thousands of workers on leave amidst legal challenges from government employee unions aiming to protect these roles from what they deem to be an effort to dismantle USAID.

Marcia Wong, a former senior USAID official, expressed strong disapproval of these cuts, stating that the administration is "shortsighted" in its approach, particularly regarding the expertise needed during humanitarian crises, such as disease outbreaks and natural disasters. She emphasized the critical role USAID experts play in stabilizing affected regions.

President Trump had previously ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid shortly after taking office, which halted various key programs ranging from disease prevention efforts to support for displaced populations globally. Although the administration has provided some exceptions totaling $5.3 billion mainly for security and counter-narcotics programs, USAID has received less than $100 million in exemptions, a stark contrast to the roughly $40 billion in annual funding it administered before the freeze.

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