The Trump administration's drastic changes are sparking controversy and concern among communities reliant on USAID aid programs.
**Trump Administration’s Major Cuts Could Reduce USAID Staff to Just 294**
**Trump Administration’s Major Cuts Could Reduce USAID Staff to Just 294**
USAID faces potential staff reductions from 10,000 to under 300 amid deep budget cuts.
The Trump administration's proposed budget cuts may see the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dramatically reduce its workforce from approximately 10,000 to fewer than 300 globally. Following the directive, most USAID staff members, including thousands working internationally, will be placed on administrative leave by midnight on Friday, as detailed in an official notice.
A union representing USAID employees, currently pursuing a lawsuit against the administration's plan, indicated that only 294 personnel have been classified as essential. Critics, including former heads of USAID, argue that the proposed layoffs are detrimental to the US's role in global humanitarian aid. One former administrator, Gayle Smith, raised concerns that such cuts signal a disregard for humanitarian crises and threaten America's longstanding reputation as a reliable aid partner.
The budget cuts have already halted numerous aid programs worldwide and disrupted essential services. Poll results suggest that public opinion may tilt against foreign aid, with a significant portion of Republicans advocating for reduced spending. The Trump administration, backed by advisor Elon Musk's initiatives, has targeted USAID as part of broader efforts to overhaul federal expenditures and streamline operations under the banner of "America First."
The legal challenge initiated by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees argues that the president's approach to reducing USAID lacks congressional approval, constituting a breach of both the US Constitution and federal law. They call for an independent leader at the agency and the restoration of all essential operations.
As tensions rise over the implications of these cuts, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed concern that the changes pose a threat to global public health. The ramifications of halted USAID programs are vividly illustrated by Nelson Otwoma, a leader of an NGO in Kenya, who described the immediate crisis affecting HIV services funded by the agency and the anxieties surrounding job losses and medicine access.
Despite claims from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that foreign aid will not cease, the administration remains committed to aligning aid efforts with US priorities, saying they must be justifiable to the American public. The fate of foreign assistance hangs in the balance as the community grapples with the uncertain future of USAID and its missions worldwide.
