Trump Administration cuts 2,000 USAID jobs, places most employees on leave in sweeping reform effort
By isabelle // 2025-02-24
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  • The Trump administration eliminates 2,000 USAID jobs and places most employees on paid leave to cut costs and address inefficiencies.
  • USAID faces criticism for diverting funds to projects like DEI initiatives abroad, straying from its core mission of global development.
  • Only 2% of Haiti earthquake recovery funds went directly to Haitian organizations, highlighting mismanagement.
  • A federal court ruled against USAID employees seeking to block the administration’s plan, deeming it a typical labor dispute.
  • The move aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to reduce government waste and refocus USAID on its original mission, sparking both praise and outrage.
As part of efforts to rein in government waste and prioritize taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration announced Sunday that it is eliminating 2,000 positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and placing nearly all other employees on paid administrative leave. The decision, effective at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 23, marks a significant step in President Trump’s ongoing campaign to streamline federal agencies and eliminate inefficiencies. With USAID’s track record of questionable spending on projects far removed from its original mission, the administration argues that this overhaul is long overdue.

Agency under scrutiny for wasteful spending

USAID, established in 1961 to provide economic and humanitarian assistance abroad, has increasingly come under fire for diverting taxpayer funds to projects that critics argue are frivolous or ideologically driven. Among the most egregious examples: $1.5 million to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbian workplaces; $70,000 for a DEI-themed musical in Ireland; $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru; and $2 million for gender transitions and LGBT activism in Guatemala. These expenditures have little to do with the agency's core mission of fostering global development and alleviating poverty. The agency’s mismanagement extends beyond questionable projects. A recent New York Post investigation revealed that just 2% of the billions allocated for Haiti’s recovery after the 2010 earthquake went directly to Haitian organizations, with the majority funneled through Washington-based middlemen. Such revelations have fueled calls for accountability and reform.

Administrative leave and reduction in force

The Trump administration’s decision to place most USAID employees on administrative leave and eliminate 2,000 positions is part of a broader “Reduction in Force” strategy aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency. Only “core leadership” and those involved in “mission-critical” or “specially designated” programs will remain on the job, according to internal documents. Employees affected by the layoffs and administrative leave were notified Sunday, with those deemed essential informed by 5 p.m. EST. Overseas personnel will have access to a voluntary, agency-funded return travel program and retain access to USAID systems until they return home. The move follows a federal court ruling by Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, who rejected a request from USAID employees to block the administration’s plan. Nichols ruled that the workers’ concerns amounted to a typical labor dispute and did not demonstrate irreparable harm. President Trump’s overhaul of USAID aligns with his broader agenda to reduce the size of the federal government and eliminate waste. The administration has long criticized USAID for its lack of accountability and its tendency to fund projects that align with progressive agendas rather than tangible development goals. The decision has drawn praise from allies like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has long criticized U.S. foreign aid programs for promoting liberal ideologies abroad. Domestically, however, the move has sparked outrage among USAID employees and their supporters, who argue that the cuts will undermine critical humanitarian efforts. The Trump administration’s sweeping reforms at USAID represent a decisive effort to rein in an agency that has strayed far from its original mission. By cutting 2,000 jobs and placing most employees on leave, the administration is sending a clear message: taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely, and government agencies must be held accountable. While critics may decry the move as harsh, it is a necessary step to eliminate waste and refocus USAID on its core purpose. As the dust settles, it is clear that the era of unchecked spending at USAID is over. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com Breitbart.com 100PercentFedUp.com WashingtonPost.com WhiteHouse.gov
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