Washington (TDI): The Donald Trump administration is set to reduce the US Agency for International Development (USAID) workforce to fewer than 300 staff worldwide, from over 10,000.
The cuts, part of a larger government overhaul, threaten major humanitarian programs globally and could upend lives of both employees and aid recipients.
The proposed plan would leave USAID, the US’s primary agency for delivering foreign humanitarian aid, with a skeletal staff.
Only 294 employees would remain, including just twelve in the Africa bureau and eight in the Asia bureau, areas that are critical to combating poverty, disease, and conflict, according to Reuters.
The downsizing come as part of a reorganization initiative, driven in part by billionaire Elon Musk, a key Trump ally, who has supported cutbacks.
Global Aid Programs at Risk
The decision has placed many life-saving programs in limbo.
USAID’s projects focus on critical areas such as disease prevention, disaster relief, and poverty alleviation in some of the most impoverished regions in the world.
In 2023, the agency provided aid to over 130 nations, with top recipients being Ukraine, Jordan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated that the government was working to identify exempted programs from the big stop-work orders, which took effect this week.
Also Read: Musk Calls for USAID’s End as Officials Put on Leave
However, many organizations that partner with USAID now face economic difficulties and uncertainty over the current projects.
The reduction in staff could be devastating for the agency’s employees and their families.
Termination notices have reportedly been issued, with many workers around the world already placed on administrative leave.
The loss of personnel is likely to hurt long-standing relationships with foreign governments, local organizations, and global partners, which are essential to the effectiveness of the US government’s foreign aid programs.
Also Read: USAID Mission Director Honored with Global Ambassador Award
The cuts have sparked outrage from humanitarian groups and many lawmakers.
Critics argue that reducing USAID’s workforce so dramatically will weaken Washington’s influence abroad and create a vacuum that could be filled by other countries.
