The Trump administration will retain fewer than 300 staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) out of its global workforce of over 10,000, sources told Reuters. The decision follows USAID’s effective shutdown after Trump’s foreign aid freeze, leaving key relief efforts in crisis.
The mass reduction in USAID staffing is the latest escalation in the administration’s restructuring of foreign aid, following Trump’s executive order pausing U.S. humanitarian funding for 90 days. Since the freeze began on January 20, relief groups have struggled to operate as most USAID employees were placed on leave, cutting off access to essential funding and logistical support.
USAID’s closure has already halted food aid deliveries to conflict zones, including Sudan and Gaza, leaving 500,000 metric tons of food supplies stranded in storage. The shutdown also eliminated the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a key tool for tracking global hunger crises, raising fears that famine relief efforts could collapse.
Aid workers say volunteer-run food programs have been disrupted, while millions of ready-to-eat nutrition packets for malnourished children remain stuck in warehouses due to uncertainty over funding approvals.
The Trump administration’s focus has shifted toward combating drug cartels and international gangs, redirecting resources away from traditional foreign aid priorities. While some emergency food assistance is expected to continue, humanitarian organizations warn that the lack of USAID personnel could cripple distribution efforts in the months ahead.
The drastic staff reduction has left relief groups in limbo, uncertain whether critical food, health, and disaster relief programs will resume or face further cuts.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
Two firefighters have tragically died and two more remain missing as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea, with over 20 fires burning across the country. The most severe blaze, in South Gyeongsang province, has already consumed hundreds of acres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the eastern Donetsk region, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining stability and support for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon flared on Saturday after Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon in response to a cross-border rocket attack, heightening concerns of further conflict in the region.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has issued a stern warning about the possibility of renewed military operations in the south, following Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for a cross-border rocket launch.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
Two firefighters have tragically died and two more remain missing as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea, with over 20 fires burning across the country. The most severe blaze, in South Gyeongsang province, has already consumed hundreds of acres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the eastern Donetsk region, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining stability and support for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon flared on Saturday after Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon in response to a cross-border rocket attack, heightening concerns of further conflict in the region.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has issued a stern warning about the possibility of renewed military operations in the south, following Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for a cross-border rocket launch.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
In a groundbreaking study published in Cell on January 18, Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel cancer treatment that ingeniously disguises tumors as pig tissue, triggering the body’s immune system to mount a hyperacute rejection response against the cancer cells.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
On March 16, at around 09:45, Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions located in the direction of the Digh settlement in the Goris region, using firearms, according to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
Two firefighters have tragically died and two more remain missing as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea, with over 20 fires burning across the country. The most severe blaze, in South Gyeongsang province, has already consumed hundreds of acres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the eastern Donetsk region, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining stability and support for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon flared on Saturday after Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon in response to a cross-border rocket attack, heightening concerns of further conflict in the region.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has issued a stern warning about the possibility of renewed military operations in the south, following Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for a cross-border rocket launch.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
Two firefighters have tragically died and two more remain missing as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea, with over 20 fires burning across the country. The most severe blaze, in South Gyeongsang province, has already consumed hundreds of acres.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the eastern Donetsk region, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining stability and support for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon flared on Saturday after Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon in response to a cross-border rocket attack, heightening concerns of further conflict in the region.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has issued a stern warning about the possibility of renewed military operations in the south, following Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for a cross-border rocket launch.
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