Trump Reshapes USAID with Massive Layoffs | WPN World People News

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has actively worked to reduce government spending since taking office, has decided to overhaul the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which focuses on overseas humanitarian aid. The plan involves reducing the agency's workforce from over 10,000 employees to fewer than 300.

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), USAID currently employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, with about 67% working outside the U.S. As part of the reduction plan, the remaining personnel will be kept only in regional offices, while the rest will be laid off. For instance, the Africa office will retain 12 employees, the Asia, Latin America, and Caribbean offices will keep 8 each, and the Middle East office will keep 21. In addition, 800 grants and contracts managed by USAID will be canceled. Some employees have already received layoff notices, and starting February 7, employees globally will enter administrative leave.

Furthermore, media reports suggest that the White House is drafting an executive order to lay off thousands of employees from the Department of Health and Human Services, including staff from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its affiliated agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, may also be affected.

The reports indicate that after the USAID restructuring, it will merge with the State Department. President Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the acting USAID Administrator. Since USAID was established by law and its funding is governed by regulations, the potential merger cannot be finalized until Congress approves it. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) argue that this plan will lead to a global humanitarian crisis, calling it unconstitutional and illegal, and they will seek legal means to prevent its implementation.