The Trump administration said on Sunday that it is eliminating 2,000 posts at the US Agency for International Development and placing all but a fraction of others worldwide on leave.
The notices were sent to USAID workers and viewed by Associated Press.
“As of 11.59pm EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programmes, will be placed on administrative leave globally,” the notices say.
The move escalates a month-long administration assault on the agency that has closed its headquarters in Washington and shut down thousands of US aid and development programmes worldwide following an effort to freeze foreign help. US President Donald Trump and his chief cost-cutter, Elon Musk , contend the aid and development work is wasteful and furthers a liberal agenda.
The notices of firings and leaves come on top of hundreds of USAID contractors receiving no-name form letters of termination over the weekend, according to copies that Associated Press viewed.