Islamabad, Feb 7: The Trump administration is planning to drastically reduce the workforce at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), retaining fewer than 300 employees out of a global total exceeding 10,000, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
Since taking office on January 20, President Donald Trump has pursued an extensive government reorganization initiative, with USAID being a primary target. This restructuring effort has been strongly influenced by businessman Elon Musk, a close ally of the Republican president.
Insiders report that only 294 staff members will remain at USAID, with just 12 allocated to the Africa bureau and only eight to the Asia bureau. This significant downsizing has sparked widespread concern among former agency officials and humanitarian advocates.
Brian Atwood, a former USAID administrator who led the agency for over six years, criticized the decision, emphasizing the devastating consequences for global humanitarian efforts. “This move could dismantle an agency responsible for saving millions of lives,” Atwood remarked. “Many vulnerable populations will suffer as a result.”
The U.S. Department of State has yet to issue an official response regarding the workforce reductions. However, the Trump administration, alongside Musk, has repeatedly accused USAID personnel of misconduct, further fueling tensions.
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As a result, the company placed many employees on leave, and hundreds of contractors lost their jobs, risking vital relief efforts worldwide.
On Tuesday, the administration announced a global suspension of all directly hired USAID employees and the recall of thousands of overseas staff. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that efforts were underway to identify programs exempt from the widespread workforce reductions. These exemptions aim to prevent disruptions to critical services, such as disease prevention, famine relief, and poverty alleviation.
Despite these assurances, concerns remain about the long-term impact of these cuts on international humanitarian operations. As USAID faces unprecedented staff reductions, the future of many life-saving programs hangs in uncertainty.
