U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has officially begun the massive dismissal of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees.
The development may lead to thousands losing their jobs, USAID has said in a notification.
“All USAID direct hire personnel, except designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally.
“Concurrently, USAID is beginning to implement a Reduction-in-Force that will affect approximately 1,600 USAID personnel with duty stations in the United States,” USAID said on Sunday.
USAID is planning to organise flights, fully funded by the agency, for its overseas personnel.
USAID said that the employees will enjoy access to the agency’s system and diplomatic channels until they return to their countries.
On Feb. 2, Elon Musk, U.S. entrepreneur and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief called USAID a “criminal organisation” that “needs to die.”
Musk said that Trump had agreed to close USAID.
In addition, DOGE had clarified that they were “already in the process” of closing the agency.
