USAID to Retain Fewer Than 300 Staff Members, Thousands Placed on Leave
The agency earlier indicated that a portion of its 10,000-member global workforce would remain active to carry out essential functions, although it did not specify the exact number.
TroibNews 
The U.S. Agency for International Development is set to retain approximately 300 staff members on duty for now, while a significant number of others will remain on leave amid efforts by the Trump administration to downsize the agency, as reported by three individuals familiar with the matter.
This represents a considerable reduction for an organization that previously reported overseeing more than 10,000 personnel worldwide, including American employees, foreign nationals, and contractors prior to President Donald Trump's inauguration last month.
The agency has seen many contractors laid off due to a freeze in foreign aid funding.
As per a notice posted on the USAID website Tuesday by the Trump administration, the remaining thousands of direct-hire personnel deemed non-essential will be placed on paid administrative leave starting Friday night. The total number of employees who will ultimately keep their positions remains uncertain.
The State Department chose not to comment on the situation.
A lawsuit was filed late Thursday against the Trump administration by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents foreign service officers, and the American Federation of Government Employees, arguing that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally dismantle the agency.
USAID, which managed over $40 billion in foreign aid for fiscal year 2023 for initiatives ranging from anti-malaria drugs to humanitarian work in conflict areas, has been rapidly scaled back under directives from Elon Musk, who heads the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk has referred to USAID employees as “worms,” while Trump described the agency’s management as “radical lunatics” during comments on Sunday.
On Thursday, screenshots from an email detailing the staffing numbers for various agency departments began to circulate on social media and among USAID staff.
The email indicates that those required to remain include 78 individuals in the bureau for humanitarian assistance, 77 in the global health bureau, 21 in the Middle East bureau, and 12 in Africa, among others. Additionally, it mentions 75 management personnel, which would bring the total active USAID staff to 289.
A source familiar with the administration’s plans confirmed the authenticity of the email but emphasized that the final staffing numbers are still being finalized. This individual was granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Confirmation of the figures cited in the email was provided by one congressional aide and a senior USAID official stationed overseas who received the numbers from Washington.
The White House and Republican members of Congress have accused USAID of engaging in wasteful spending aimed at promoting progressive causes, including advancing LGBTQ rights internationally. In response, Rep. Greg Steube introduced a bill on Thursday designed to abolish the agency, rescind unobligated funds, and transfer USAID’s essential operations to the State Department.
Many agency employees have participated in protests against the initiative to eliminate USAID, asserting they are being unfairly targeted and claiming that Musk and his DOGE group are using the agency as a model for dismantling other federal entities without appropriate oversight. Democrats have argued that such substantial changes necessitate congressional approval.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
This represents a considerable reduction for an organization that previously reported overseeing more than 10,000 personnel worldwide, including American employees, foreign nationals, and contractors prior to President Donald Trump's inauguration last month.
The agency has seen many contractors laid off due to a freeze in foreign aid funding.
As per a notice posted on the USAID website Tuesday by the Trump administration, the remaining thousands of direct-hire personnel deemed non-essential will be placed on paid administrative leave starting Friday night. The total number of employees who will ultimately keep their positions remains uncertain.
The State Department chose not to comment on the situation.
A lawsuit was filed late Thursday against the Trump administration by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents foreign service officers, and the American Federation of Government Employees, arguing that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally dismantle the agency.
USAID, which managed over $40 billion in foreign aid for fiscal year 2023 for initiatives ranging from anti-malaria drugs to humanitarian work in conflict areas, has been rapidly scaled back under directives from Elon Musk, who heads the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk has referred to USAID employees as “worms,” while Trump described the agency’s management as “radical lunatics” during comments on Sunday.
On Thursday, screenshots from an email detailing the staffing numbers for various agency departments began to circulate on social media and among USAID staff.
The email indicates that those required to remain include 78 individuals in the bureau for humanitarian assistance, 77 in the global health bureau, 21 in the Middle East bureau, and 12 in Africa, among others. Additionally, it mentions 75 management personnel, which would bring the total active USAID staff to 289.
A source familiar with the administration’s plans confirmed the authenticity of the email but emphasized that the final staffing numbers are still being finalized. This individual was granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Confirmation of the figures cited in the email was provided by one congressional aide and a senior USAID official stationed overseas who received the numbers from Washington.
The White House and Republican members of Congress have accused USAID of engaging in wasteful spending aimed at promoting progressive causes, including advancing LGBTQ rights internationally. In response, Rep. Greg Steube introduced a bill on Thursday designed to abolish the agency, rescind unobligated funds, and transfer USAID’s essential operations to the State Department.
Many agency employees have participated in protests against the initiative to eliminate USAID, asserting they are being unfairly targeted and claiming that Musk and his DOGE group are using the agency as a model for dismantling other federal entities without appropriate oversight. Democrats have argued that such substantial changes necessitate congressional approval.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
