The Trump administration plans to drastically reduce staffing at the U.S. government’s large humanitarian agency, USAID, cutting the number of employees from over 10,000 to fewer than 300, according to a report by the New York Times on Thursday.
Those remaining will primarily include staff specializing in health and humanitarian assistance, sources familiar with the plans told the Times, speaking anonymously.
In response to these proposed cuts, two unions representing USAID employees filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Trump and his administration. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the firing and furloughing of workers and the dismantling of the agency, arguing that such actions cannot be taken without prior approval from Congress.
The State Department did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
According to the report, USAID officials were also informed that approximately 800 awards and contracts administered through the agency would be cancelled.
Other outlets, including the Washington Post, also reported on the plans to significantly reduce USAID staffing.
These developments follow the agency’s announcement on Tuesday that it was placing both U.S. and international staff on administrative leave while moving to recall employees from overseas assignments.
This move is part of a larger effort by Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk, to shrink the federal government. The plan has sparked outrage in Washington, among Democrats, and human rights groups.
USAID plays a critical role in U.S. foreign policy, funding health and emergency programs in about 120 countries, including some of the world’s poorest. It is seen as a key instrument of soft power for the U.S., particularly in its competition with global rivals like China, where Musk has extensive business interests.
Musk has referred to USAID as “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America,” while Trump recently described it as being run by a “bunch of radical lunatics.”
The proposed cuts have drawn sharp criticism from aid organizations, with many stating that they have already led to the closure of key programs, including those focused on HIV prevention and treatment.
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