USAID Workers Scramble as Trump Orders Mass Withdrawals Worldwide/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of nearly all USAID staff from more than 100 countries, shutting down billions of dollars in foreign aid projects. The decision has left thousands of aid workers scrambling for answers, with many fearing they’ll be stranded abroad. The move comes as Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) target USAID for budget cuts, calling it wasteful spending. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers and unions are preparing legal action to stop the dismantling of the agency.
Trump’s USAID Shutdown: Quick Looks
- Mass Layoffs and Withdrawals: USAID workers must leave their jobs by Friday, with direct hires given 30 days to return home.
- Global Aid Projects Collapse: Programs for clean water, education, and disease prevention are being abandoned.
- Democratic Opposition Rises: Lawmakers call the move illegal, as Congress never authorized the shutdown.
- Elon Musk Celebrates: The DOGE team boasts about dismantling USAID, calling it an unnecessary expense.
- Workers Face Chaos: Families are pulling kids from school, abandoning pets, and rushing to leave their posts.
USAID Workers Scramble as Trump Orders Mass Withdrawals Worldwide
Deep Look
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), long considered a pillar of American foreign policy, is being rapidly dismantled by the Trump administration in one of the most drastic shake-ups of the federal government in decades.
With an abrupt order issued late Tuesday night, Trump directed nearly all USAID employees and contractors to leave their jobs, sending shockwaves through the global aid community.
USAID Workers Caught Off Guard
Thousands of aid workers overseas received a sudden notification informing them that they were:
- “Off the job effective Friday at midnight” unless deemed essential.
- Required to leave their posts within 30 days (for direct hires).
- Fired immediately (for contractors).
U.S. embassies in more than 100 countries scrambled to organize emergency meetings for stunned workers, but officials had no clear answers on their employment status.
Despite the administration’s promise to cover relocation costs, many fear being stranded abroad without support. Some employees in Washington have begun reactivating evacuation networks, typically used for war zones, to help local staffers return home.
The Fallout: Billions in Aid Projects Disrupted
The immediate consequences of the USAID shutdown are staggering:
- Security assistance for Ukraine and U.S. allies is frozen.
- Programs for clean water, job training, and education have stopped.
- Food and medicine worth hundreds of millions of dollars sit abandoned in ports.
- Global health programs, including polio eradication and HIV/AIDS prevention, have been halted.
One of the most shocking impacts: education programs for Afghan girls under Taliban rule have been abruptly cut, leaving thousands of students without schooling.
Musk and the Trump Administration Boast About the Cuts
Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the move, writing:
“Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”
The administration argues that foreign aid is unnecessary and should be redirected toward U.S. domestic priorities.
Congressional Backlash and Legal Challenges
Democratic lawmakers are fighting back, with some calling the move illegal since Congress never approved USAID’s dismantling.
- USAID is an independent agency, meaning it cannot be shut down without congressional approval.
- Supporters from both parties argue that foreign aid is a vital national security tool, helping counter Russian and Chinese influence abroad.
- The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the union representing diplomats, has already announced legal action to stop the shutdown.
However, with Trump allies controlling Congress, legal battles may be the only way to stop USAID’s closure.
Staff and Families Scramble to Leave
For thousands of USAID workers and their families, the sudden order has created chaos.
- Parents are pulling children from school midyear, unsure if they can return.
- Some are giving away their pets, fearing they won’t have time to process paperwork to bring them back to the U.S.
- Housing arrangements, medical care, and financial security are now uncertain for many employees.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Defends the Cuts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a tour of Central America, defended the decision, saying:
“Foreign aid is not charity. Every dollar we spend must advance U.S. national interests.”
This signals that more cuts to international programs could follow.
What’s Next?
The future of USAID remains uncertain, but key developments to watch include:
- Legal challenges from unions and congressional leaders.
- Potential court rulings on the legality of the agency’s dismantling.
- Further government restructuring as Musk’s DOGE team continues slashing agencies.
- The growing impact on U.S. diplomacy, as allies and rivals react to America’s withdrawal from global aid.
For now, one thing is clear—Trump’s radical reshaping of the federal government is moving at full speed, and USAID is just the latest casualty.
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