America's foreign aid agency faces deep staff cuts under the Trump administration's budget reductions, potentially reducing the workforce from roughly 10,000 to fewer than 300 worldwide.
Most non-essential staff are slated to be placed on administrative leave by midnight on Friday, with plans for return travel and terminating non-essential contracts. The move, driven by cost-cutting advisor Elon Musk, has caused a significant impact on global aid programs, with many frozen around the world.
Critics accuse USAID of misusing taxpayer funds and failing to prioritize "America First" policies, despite the U.S. being a leading provider of global humanitarian aid. The reported plan to downsize to less than 300 employees has drawn sharp criticism from experts like former USAID chief Brian Atwood, who warned of dire consequences for the agency's lifesaving work.
In response, the American Foreign Service Association union, in collaboration with the American Federation of Government Employees, has filed a lawsuit challenging the cuts as unconstitutional and unlawful.
The lawsuit seeks to halt the dismantling of USAID, appoint an independent acting director, resume agency operations, and lift evacuation orders to safeguard national security interests and global aid efforts disrupted by the cuts.
Though Senator Rubio has defended the administration's actions, stressing the importance of aligning aid programs with U.S. priorities to ensure accountability and effectiveness, the drastic staff reductions are poised to have a significant impact on USAID's operations and humanitarian efforts.