Uncertainty Hits USAID Amid Trump’s Downsizing Plan

More than half of USAID employees are now caught between forced layoffs and paid leave after a federal judge in Washington granted President Donald Trump the green light to reduce staff and dissolve the agency.

This move aligns with the administration’s broader freeze on U.S. foreign aid worldwide.

As a result, 4,200 employees have been placed on paid leave, while 1,600 others have been dismissed. However, some officials in critical or leadership roles have been exempted from termination.

Confusion and uncertainty now surround the future of USAID, widely seen as America’s soft power arm across the globe, as reports indicate that only 611 employees out of 10,000 are expected to stay.

An internal email notice stated that the agency plans to fund voluntary return travel for employees stationed abroad.

The downsizing has disrupted the global aid system, as the United States remains the world’s largest humanitarian donor.

USAID employees warn that the decision will have serious consequences for America’s global standing. However, President Donald Trump considers the agency an unjustified financial burden that must be eliminated.