USAID worldwide staff placed on leave

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will place nearly all of its employees on administrative leave, it announced on Tuesday. According to a notice on the USAID website, the change concerns all directly hired employees, with the exception of “essential personnel.”

Established in 1961, USAID is Washington’s primary agency for funding political projects abroad, responsible for administering billions of dollars in so-called ‘foreign aid and development programs’ to promote American interests under the premise of humanitarian development. However, under US President Donald Trump’s new administration, the agency’s operations have come under review as part of a broader reassessment of US foreign policy.

Shortly after being sworn in last month, Trump issued a sweeping executive order pausing all foreign aid for 90 days, leading to widespread confusion, layoffs, and program shutdowns.

The website notice reads that “On Friday, February 7, all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs.”

Employees who are expected to continue working will be reportedly notified individually later in the week…