USAID staff placed on leave in Trump purge
On Tuesday, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that it would place its staff—both in the US and abroad—on administrative leave, as the agency works to recall employees from overseas assignments. The agency confirmed that this leave would begin just before midnight on February 7, 2024.
USAID stated that all direct-hire personnel would be affected, with the exception of those performing critical functions, core leadership roles, or managing special programs. A brief message on the agency’s website read, “Thank you for your service.”
This move is part of a broader initiative driven by former President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk, to reduce the size of the US government. The decision has sparked outrage in Washington, particularly among Democrats and human rights advocates.
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USAID, which funds health and emergency programs in about 120 countries, is considered a key tool of US soft power, especially in regions struggling with extreme poverty. The agency’s influence extends to global power struggles, notably with China, where Musk has significant business interests.
Musk has previously criticized USAID, calling it a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists” and claiming it engages in “rogue CIA work” and funds bioweapon research, including the origins of COVID-19, though he has provided no evidence for these claims. Musk, who is a major financial supporter of Trump, stated that he had personally consulted the president before initiating the move.
The reduction of USAID is seen as part of a larger conservative and libertarian narrative within the Republican Party that suggests the US is spending too much on foreign aid while neglecting domestic issues. USAID’s mission is to end extreme poverty, support resilient democracies, and advance US security and prosperity.
In 2023, the top recipients of USAID aid included Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Jordan, with Ukraine receiving over $16 billion in support, particularly amid its ongoing war. Other notable recipients included Afghanistan, South Sudan, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite being a small portion of the US government’s overall budget, USAID’s funding exceeds $40 billion. As of 2023, the US is the world’s largest provider of official development assistance, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
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