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Dozens of senior USAID staff members have been put on administrative leave and hundreds of contractors have been furloughed or terminated, according to sources inside the agency. This follows an order from Secretary of State Marco Rubio last Friday halting almost all U.S. foreign aid.
Affected staff and contractors, speaking anonymously, described a chaotic situation. An internal email from USAID’s acting administrator cited actions “designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders.”
Around 60 senior staff, mostly career employees, were suspended, leaving the agency without clear leadership. Some were reportedly escorted from the building.
Hundreds of contractors were also laid off, some with no severance pay and benefits expiring within days. Termination letters suggest the situation may be temporary, but employees’ access to work accounts was immediately cut off.
Rubio’s order aims to fulfill President Trump’s campaign promises to shrink the federal workforce and cut spending. Critics worry the cuts will damage America’s global standing.
Stop-work orders were issued to USAID and State Department contractors. Some employees expressed concern about losing health insurance due to sudden termination.
Rubio later issued a waiver for “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” including food, shelter, and medical care, but excluding abortion and “gender ideology programs.” It’s unclear how this waiver will affect those already terminated.
The aid freeze has impacted programs like PEPFAR, which provides HIV/AIDS treatment to millions globally. There are concerns about the program’s future due to recent reports of aid recipients performing abortions. Some sources estimate the funding halt could lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Former USAID employees and contractors expressed outrage, calling the situation a “purge,” a “crime against humanity,” and a “hostile takeover of our democracy.” The removal of photographs from USAID offices was also noted as unusual.