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Most USAID workers placed on leave, Trump administration says Most USAID staff laid off or placed on leave by Trump administration
(about 3 hours later)
Watch: How Trump and Musk upended US government's foreign aid agencyWatch: How Trump and Musk upended US government's foreign aid agency
The Trump administration has placed most USAID employees back on administrative leave from midnight on Sunday. The Trump administration has placed most United States Agency for International Development (USAID) employees back on administrative leave from midnight on Sunday and laid off hundreds more.
Some 2,000 employees are also being laid off in a "reduction in force" effort, the Office of the Administrator said in an email to employees obtained by CBS News, the BBC's American news partner. In addition to some 4,200 staff who are being placed on leave, at least 1,600 employees are being fired.
The move comes weeks after President Donald Trump initially attempted to eliminate thousands of USAID employees, but the move faced a legal challenge. The move comes weeks after President Donald Trump's initial attempt to eliminate thousands of USAID employees was held up by a legal challenge.
A federal judge had temporarily halted the administration's plan to gut America's foreign aid agency, but ruled on Friday that the pause would not be permanent. A federal judge temporarily halted the administration's plan to gut America's foreign aid agency, but ruled on Friday that the pause would not be permanent. Founded in 1961, USAID employed around 10,000 staff until the recent cost-cutting began.
The notice to employees clarifies that "designated personnel" responsible for critical functions or in leadership will be exempt. It's not clear how many employees have been deemed critical. The notice to USAID employees on Sunday from the Office of the Administrator said that "designated personnel" responsible for critical functions or in leadership would be exempt from administrative leave.
The email to staff said USAID intended to fund voluntary return travel for overseas staff. It's not clear how many employees will be kept on, but USAID had previously deemed 611 personnel to be essential.
Judge Carl Nichols ruled on Friday that the Trump administration could continue its plans to get rid of staffers, dismissing pleas from employees to halt the government's plan. The email said USAID intended to fund voluntary return travel for overseas staff.
Sunday's announcement marks the latest in a string of moves from the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce and cut costs. Around 4,200 employees will be placed on leave, according to the BBC's US news partner CBS.
That effort is being led by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk, who requested over the weekend that millions of bureaucrats list their accomplishments from the past week. The USAID website said there would be a "reduction-in-force" of an additional 1,600 personnel in the US.
That would amount to at least 5,800 USAID employees on administrative leave or laid off - or well over half the agency's workforce.
The development follows a ruling on Friday by Judge Carl Nichols in Washington DC that the Trump administration could press ahead with its plans to get rid of USAID employees.
Another federal judge said last week that the Trump administration was failing to abide by a ruling requiring the government to continue financing foreign aid already approved by Congress while legal challenges play out.
It is unclear whether those USAID staff being placed on leave will eventually be rehired, or have their positions eliminated, too.
The Trump administration is seeking to shrink the federal workforce and cut costs in a drive led by Elon Musk.
The billionaire Trump adviser asked millions of bureaucrats over the weekend to list their accomplishments from the past week.
Musk email to US government workers sparks confusion across agencies
What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'?What is USAID and why is Trump poised to 'close it down'?
The pair have been critical of America's sizable overseas spending, and USAID has become a lightning rod for their frustration. Trump has said the agency fails to align with his "America First" policy priorities. On Saturday, from the stage at a conservative convention near Washington DC, Trump said: "We've also effectively ended the left-wing scam known as USAID.
On Saturday, from the stage at a conservative convention outside Washington DC, Trump said: "We've also effectively ended the left-wing scam known as USAID.
"The agency's name has been removed from its former building, and that space will now house agents from Customs and Border Patrol.""The agency's name has been removed from its former building, and that space will now house agents from Customs and Border Patrol."
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), a US immigration-enforement agency, is reportedly ready to move into the USAID building in the heart of the nation's capital. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), a US immigration-enforcement agency, is ready to move into the USAID building in the heart of the nation's capital.
"CBP has signed a licence agreement to occupy approximately 390,000 usable square feet in the USAID tower," a CBP spokesperson told Fox News."CBP has signed a licence agreement to occupy approximately 390,000 usable square feet in the USAID tower," a CBP spokesperson told Fox News.
USAID employed around 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom worked overseas, according to the Congressional Research Service. Trump and Musk have been critical of America's sizable overseas spending, and USAID has become a lightning rod for their frustration. Trump and his allies have accused the agency of being too liberal and wasteful.
Trump's cutbacks to USAID - championed by Musk - have already upended the global aid system. Hundreds of programmes have been frozen in countries around the world since the president announced his intentions in January. The cutbacks to USAID have already upended the global aid system. Hundreds of programmes have been frozen in countries around the world since the president announced his intentions in January.
The US is by far the biggest single provider of humanitarian aid around the world. It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others, with much of its work carried out by its contractors.The US is by far the biggest single provider of humanitarian aid around the world. It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others, with much of its work carried out by its contractors.
"When you pull all of that out, you send some very dangerous messages," former USAID chief Gayle Smith previously told the BBC. Former USAID chief Gayle Smith previously told the BBC: "When you pull all of that out, you send some very dangerous messages.
"The US is signalling that we don't frankly care whether people live or die and that we're not a reliable partner.""The US is signalling that we don't frankly care whether people live or die and that we're not a reliable partner."