Trump Administration Announces Major Cuts to USAID Positions

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) – The Trump administration informed Congress on Friday that it plans to eliminate nearly all positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) not required by law, as part of a broader strategy to merge the agency with the State Department.

The declaration follows an internal memorandum sent to USAID employees by Jeremy Lewin, the agency’s acting deputy administrator. The memo revealed that reductions would commence on July 1 and September 2, with employees encouraged to assist in the transition to the State Department.

“As you can imagine, there will be lots of work to responsibly migrate operations and responsibilities to the State Department,” Lewin stated. “We would like to offer every USAID employee the opportunity to participate in that important work, if they so choose.” He acknowledged that many employees may prefer to prioritize their families during this period.

Staff will soon have the option to remain on active duty or go on administrative leave until the transition occurs. The State Department plans to hire individuals for its new responsibilities, but it will not automatically transfer existing USAID staff, indicating a separate hiring process will be instituted.

The move has raised alarms among humanitarian aid experts who are concerned about the implications of such drastic cuts. As USAID has historically been pivotal in coordinating international emergencies, the consolidation could hamper U.S. response efforts, especially following the recent devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand.

“It’s really devastating to watch in real time,” said Sarah Charles, a former assistant USAID administrator. She emphasized that Trump’s cuts are limiting the agency’s ability to deploy emergency response teams.

The California-based NGO, Stand Up for Aid, reported that of March 21, 869 USAID employees were still active while thousands were placed on paid administrative leave. Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the administration’s actions as illegal, asserting that a move to dismantle the agency should require congressional approval.

“This is an attack on our global leadership role and aims to withdraw the U.S. from its commitments,” he stated in a press release.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio articulated the administration’s rationale for the cuts, asserting they are necessary to enhance efficiency and realign foreign assistance programs: “USAID has strayed from its original mission long ago. Thanks to President Trump, this misguided era is now over,” he said.

The sweeping changes in the agency’s structure are seen as part of a larger agenda defined by a significant focus on reforming foreign aid frameworks. The shifts will lead to the closure of various USAID missions worldwide, further complicating the agency’s humanitarian operations.

Trump’s announcement marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid strategy, with critics warning it could jeopardize crucial assistance programs and diminish America’s presence in global humanitarian efforts at a critical time.