USAID Faces Mass Layoffs as Trump Administration Plans Major Cuts

The Trump administration is set to implement drastic staff reductions at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), slashing the workforce from over 10,000 employees to fewer than 300, according to a report by The New York Times.

The remaining staff will primarily include experts in health and humanitarian assistance. The decision has sparked controversy, with two unions representing USAID employees filing a lawsuit against the administration. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the mass layoffs and the dismantling of the agency, arguing that such actions require Congressional approval.

The State Department has yet to issue an official response, while USAID has reportedly been ordered to cancel approximately 800 awards and contracts previously administered through the agency.

🔎 A Radical Restructuring of USAID

The move aligns with Trump’s broader effort, supported by billionaire Elon Musk, to shrink the U.S. government. The initiative has shocked Washington and triggered backlash from Democrats and human rights organizations.

USAID, a key pillar of U.S. foreign policy, funds health and emergency programs in around 120 countries, providing essential aid to some of the world’s most impoverished regions. The agency is widely regarded as a crucial instrument of U.S. soft power, particularly in competition with global rivals like China, where Musk has significant business interests.

🔥 Criticism and Backlash

Musk has openly criticized USAID, labeling it “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America.” Meanwhile, Trump has described the agency as being run by “radical lunatics.”

The decision has already forced the closure of several vital aid programs, including those focused on HIV prevention and treatment, drawing strong opposition from international humanitarian groups.

As the cuts progress, uncertainty looms over the future of U.S. global aid efforts. The dismantling of USAID could have far-reaching consequences on international humanitarian aid and America’s global influence.