Trump calls directly for USAID closure

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), just as most of its employees were expecting to be placed on indefinite administrative leave, The New York Times reported.

On Friday, Trump took to Truth Social to demand the dissolution of USAID, accusing the agency of widespread corruption and fraud without providing specific details. He had previously described the agency as being “run by radical lunatics.”

The decision comes as the majority of USAID’s direct hires prepared to be placed on indefinite administrative leave, while contractors were set to be dismissed. A notice posted on the agency’s website on Tuesday informed foreign service officers that they would be provided funding to return home within 30 days, with possible extensions granted on a case-by-case basis.

However, overnight amendments to the guidance allowed employees to remain abroad longer—but at their own expense. A newly added FAQ section on the USAID website stated that foreign service officers could choose to stay overseas but would have to cover their own travel costs. It did not clarify whether those on administrative leave would continue receiving cost-of-living subsidies.

The initial announcement sparked panic among foreign service officers, who struggled with the prospect of uprooting their lives and families within weeks. While the updated guidance permitted them to remain abroad, the requirement to fund their own return travel provided little reassurance to aid workers facing potential job losses.

Meanwhile, only a small number of USAID employees were notified that they had been designated as “essential personnel.” These individuals received an email stating: “This is your formal notification that you are expected to keep working, effective immediately, and until notified otherwise.” The exact number of employees in this category remains unclear.