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By Gabe Whisnant
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On Thursday, the Trump administration unveiled a plan to significantly reduce staffing for U.S. aid projects worldwide, as part of its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The plan would cut the number of workers to fewer than 300 from the current thousands of staff.
Two current USAID employees and a former senior USAID official, who chose to remain anonymous due to a Trump administration order prohibiting USAID staff from speaking to outsiders, shared details of the plan with The Associated Press.
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Why It Matters
The drastic reduction is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to realign and minimize America's role in international development, focusing instead on domestic priorities and reducing federal expenditures. Critics argue that this move could undermine global stability and diminish the U.S.'s role in addressing international humanitarian crises, potentially leading to severe consequences for vulnerable populations worldwide.
What To Know
According to the plan, only fewer than 300 staff members would remain from the existing 8,000 direct hires and contractors, alongside an undetermined number of the 5,000 locally hired international staff. These remaining employees would oversee the limited life-saving programs that the administration intends to continue for the time being.
The plan to cut USAID's staffing follows several other controversial moves by the Trump administration. Earlier, the administration had issued a freeze on foreign assistance, leading to the suspension of numerous programs designed to combat starvation, provide education, and tackle epidemics. This freeze has already caused disruptions in many aid projects and prompted layoffs and furloughs among USAID contractors and staff.
These unprecedented changes have drawn significant criticism from humanitarian organizations, foreign governments, and political opponents, who claim that the Trump administration is abandoning America's historic commitment to global development and humanitarian aid. They also express concerns about the substantial influence that tech billionaire Elon Musk, noted as a close advisor to President Trump, has over this strategic pivot.
In response to the announcement, congressional Democrats have vowed to oppose the dismantling of USAID. They argue that such a move would relinquish American leadership in global humanitarian efforts and could have long-lasting detrimental effects on U.S. security interests and global relations.
What People Are Saying
Jeffrey A. Frankel, James W. Harpel Professor of Capital Formation and Growth and research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, told Newsweek: "USAID, like many big organizations, can sometimes be inefficient. But it plays a vital role in improving—and saving—lives around the world and in projecting soft power. If the Administration were to follow through on this idea of shutting down the agency, it would be catastrophic."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News on February 3: "This is not about getting rid of foreign aid. There are things that we do through USAID that we should continue to do that make sense. And we'll have to decide, is that better through the State Department, or is that better through something, a reformed USAID? That's the process we're working through."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently told reporters: "I don't know about you. But as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going toward this crap. And I know the American people don't either. And that's exactly what Elon Musk has been tasked by President Trump to do. To get the fraud, waste and abuse out of the federal government."
What Happens Next
The proposed reduction in USAID staffing marks a pivotal moment in the Trump administration's broader efforts to reshape U.S. foreign policy and reduce the country's involvement in international aid.
As the administration moves forward with its plan, the global implications of an under-resourced USAID will likely become increasingly evident.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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