By Gwurld4026 
Major USAID Layoffs: Trump Places Thousands on Leave
On February 23, 2025, the Trump administration announced the termination of approximately 2,000 positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and placed the majority of the remaining staff on administrative leave.
This decision follows a federal court ruling permitting the administration to proceed with these workforce reductions, despite legal challenges from employee unions.
The layoffs and administrative leaves are part of a broader initiative to scale back USAID operations, which has already led to the closure of its Washington, D.C., headquarters and the suspension of numerous global aid programs.
President Donald Trump and Chief of Staff Elon Musk have criticized foreign aid programs, labeling them as wasteful and misaligned with American interests.
The federal court’s decision to allow these actions has faced opposition from employee unions and international aid advocates, who argue that the cuts could effectively dismantle the agency and jeopardize critical aid initiatives worldwide.