US President Donald Trump’s administration plans to keep fewer than 300 staff at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) out of the agency’s worldwide total of more than 10,000, Reuters reported. However, the workers sued the Trump government on Thursday in an effort to reverse its dismantling of the USAID.
As per the details, as many as four sources familiar with this said only 294 staff at the agency would be allowed to keep their jobs. This will include 12 in the Africa bureau and eight in the Asia bureau.
USAID has been a target of a government reorganization program with tech-billionaire Elon Musk leading it from the front. Musk, who is a close ally of Trump, has been critical of the agency, since the inauguration of new US President on January 20.
Atul Gawande, who earlier led USAID, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Rubio claims that USAID lifesaving assistance for health and humanitarian needs will continue. But his team just communicated that the entire agency will be imminently reduced from 14,000 to 294 people. Just 12 in Africa.”
Rubio claims that @USAID lifesaving assistance for health and humanitarian needs will continue. But his team just communicated that the entire agency will be imminently reduced from 14,000 to 294 people. Just 12 in Africa. pic.twitter.com/8uvyjcXKeA
— Atul Gawande (@Atul_Gawande) February 6, 2025
Those USAID employees working abroad, which account for about two-thirds of the agency’s staff, will be offered optional and fully reimbursed return travel to the US within 30 days. However, the personnel are not required to accept Agency-sponsored travel or to return to the US within any specific deadline, Independent reported.
“Beyond 30 days, however, Agency funded and arranged return travel may not be available unless an individualized exception is sought and granted,” the memo states. “Thank you for your service,” it reads.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration’s actions and reiterated that employees overseas have options, including extending beyond the 30-day window to return to the US due to extenuating circumstances.
Government Workers Sue Trump Administration
The largest US government workers’ union and an association of foreign service workers sued the Trump government on Thursday in an effort to reverse its dismantling of the USAID. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C. federal court by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association, seeks an order blocking what it says are “unconstitutional and illegal actions” that have created a “global humanitarian crisis.” The lawsuit also takes aim at the administration’s freeze on almost all foreign assistance, CNN reported.
