Major Staff Cuts at USAID Under Trump’s Administration

In a dramatic move, the Trump administration has decided to lay off approximately 9,400 workers from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leaving only about 611 employees classified as essential.

This marks a significant downsizing of the agency, which has been a critical player in global humanitarian aid.

Initially, the plan was to keep fewer than 300 staff members, but this number was adjusted late Thursday after a notice was sent to the agency.

Trump’s Criticism of USAID

President Trump has long been vocal in his criticism of USAID, calling it a breeding ground for corruption. On Friday morning, he took to his Truth Social account to express his views, claiming the agency’s spending practices were fraudulent and that corruption was at unprecedented levels. He even suggested that the agency should be shut down altogether, citing its inefficiency and wasteful spending.

Efforts to Streamline Government Operations

This move is part of a broader strategy led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to reduce spending and streamline federal agencies. Musk, who has been highly critical of USAID, called it a “criminal organization” and questioned the use of taxpayer money for foreign aid. His stance is clear: he believes U.S. tax dollars should be spent on American needs rather than overseas, a view he reinforced through his social media posts.

Staff Push Back and Legal Action

While the administration has moved to drastically reduce the workforce at USAID, there are efforts to keep some staff in place.

Those remaining will focus on vital areas such as health and humanitarian assistance. As part of their efforts, senior staff put together a list of about 600 employees they deemed essential, urging that their work be preserved.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the list, but the larger picture is one of widespread cuts, including the cancellation of around 800 awards and contracts.

Meanwhile, employees are pushing back.

Two unions representing USAID workers filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the decision to dissolve the agency is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit claims only Congress has the authority to dismantle an agency, and that the actions taken by the Trump administration violate fundamental constitutional rights.

The Fallout and Global Aid Impact

The repercussions of these cuts could go far beyond the agency itself.

USAID oversees critical global projects, including food aid, disaster relief, and healthcare programs in over 100 countries, with a budget of about $40 billion.

Many of the supplies and aid the agency procures come from American businesses, including $2.1 billion in food aid purchased from U.S. farmers in 2020 alone.

As the agency shrinks, smaller companies that specialize in global health or disaster relief may face dire consequences.

A Shift in Foreign Aid Strategy

Rubio, while defending the cuts, emphasized that the U.S. will continue to provide foreign assistance, but with a more strategic focus aligned with national interests.

He pointed out that the previous attempt to reform USAID from the top down had been met with resistance, citing attempts to bypass restrictions and push through unauthorized payments.

Despite these efforts, Rubio assured that the U.S.

will remain committed to foreign aid, albeit with a more targeted approach that aligns better with U.S. goals.

This shift in foreign aid could signal a new direction for U.S. global engagement, one that prioritizes efficiency and national interests over broad, often criticized spending.

However, it remains to be seen what the long-term consequences of these cuts will be, both for the countries that rely on U.S. aid and for the American companies that supply it.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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