Federal Guards Escort USAID Staff During Emotional Final Visit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ USAID employees faced an emotional final visit to their headquarters Thursday, escorted by federal officers as they retrieved their belongings in strictly monitored 15-minute windows. Supporters clapped and cheered as staff left in tears, devastated by the Trump administration’s dismantling of the agency. USAID has been one of the biggest targets of Trump’s push to shrink the federal government, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. With 4,080 staffers placed on leave and $60 billion in aid slashed, USAID’s global programs have ground to a halt. Despite lawsuits and political backlash, Congress has yet to intervene, leaving the future of U.S. foreign aid in limbo.
USAID Shutdown Quick Looks
- USAID workers forced to clear belongings under federal guard, given 15-minute time slots.
- Tears and protests as staff exit, supporters clap and cheer outside.
- Trump and Elon Musk’s agency cuts leave only a fraction of USAID employees in place.
- 4,080 USAID employees placed on leave, with 1,600 more facing job cuts.
- Congress has not intervened, despite legal challenges to the shutdown.
- Supreme Court blocks lower court ruling to release frozen aid funds.
Deep Look: USAID Workers Say Emotional Goodbyes as Trump Administration Dismantles Agency
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), long regarded as a cornerstone of American global humanitarian efforts, is being dismantled under the Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal government. On Thursday, fired and furloughed USAID employees arrived at their former Washington headquarters to collect their belongings, escorted by federal officers in strictly timed 15-minute windows.
A Tearful Goodbye Under Guard
The scene outside the agency’s headquarters was somber and emotional. Some staff members wept openly as they carried out grocery bags and suitcases containing their life’s work. Supporters and former colleagues gathered outside, clapping and cheering to offer comfort. Some honked their car horns in solidarity with the departing employees.
One woman, burdened with backpacks and suitcases, broke down in tears at the sound of cheers from the small but growing crowd of supporters. Many rushed to embrace her, in a poignant moment symbolizing the heartbreak of those affected by the agency’s abrupt shutdown.
Outside the building, federal officers stood guard, intercepting employees as they arrived with suitcases and bags to escort them inside. The measures were strictly enforced, with those entering required to turn in all USAID-issued assets before leaving. Employees on administrative leave were told to retain certain materials, such as diplomatic passports, until further notice.
Trump and Musk’s Radical Overhaul of USAID
USAID has been one of the biggest targets of President Donald Trump’s aggressive effort to slash the size of the federal government. The initiative, led in part by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, has resulted in mass layoffs and funding cuts.
The Trump administration argues that USAID’s programs are misaligned with Republican policy goals and wasteful, though it has provided no concrete evidence to support these claims. Notably, this dramatic downsizing has bypassed Congress, despite the agency being authorized and funded by legislative approval.
According to State Department officials, USAID placed 4,080 employees on leave this week, alongside a “reduction in force” that will eliminate 1,600 more jobs. The cuts will slash more than 90% of USAID’s contracts, effectively terminating $60 billion in global foreign assistance programs.
A Congressional Research Service report earlier this month stated that USAID cannot legally be abolished without congressional authorization. However, with a Republican-controlled House and Senate, no significant efforts have been made to challenge the administration’s actions.
Legal Challenges and Supreme Court Intervention
The shutdown of USAID and its aid programs has sparked multiple lawsuits from nonprofits and foreign aid organizations. The legal challenges focus on the month-long freeze on foreign assistance funds, which has left millions of people worldwide without critical humanitarian aid.
Earlier this week, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in frozen aid, citing a lack of compliance with a previous court ruling. However, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked that order, with Chief Justice John Roberts stating that the decision would be on hold until the high court could fully review the case.
Tributes and a Final Farewell
Despite the political chaos, many still took time to honor the legacy of USAID. Outside the headquarters, someone left a bucket of flowers for employees to place at the agency’s memorial wall, commemorating the 99 USAID workers who died in service.
David Radcliffe, a 30-year veteran of the Department of Defense, was among those gathered in support. Holding a sign that read, “YOU Made America Great! Thank You USAID,” he praised the agency’s global impact and condemned its dismantling.
“USAID has represented the best of what America stands for,” he said. “This makes no sense from a policy perspective.”
Similarly, Randy Chester, Vice President of the American Foreign Service Association, expressed gratitude for USAID staffers. “We just want to say thank you for your service. Your work has saved lives, and we appreciate all that you’ve done,” he said.
A Nation Divided Over Foreign Aid
The controversy surrounding USAID’s closure underscores the deep partisan divide over foreign aid. While Republicans argue that cutting foreign aid aligns with a “America First” policy, critics insist that USAID plays a vital role in global stability.
Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly condemned the administration’s actions as “Unwarranted and Unprecedented.” Calling USAID the “World’s premier development and foreign assistance agency”, he noted that its efforts have saved millions of lives each year.
For many USAID employees, however, the fight may already be lost. With no sign of intervention from Congress, the once-prominent aid agency is now a shell of its former self—and thousands of dedicated professionals are left searching for new careers, mourning the end of an era.
