President Donald Trump’s administration announced a decision to place the majority of USAID personnel on paid administrative leave, with plans to cut about 2,000 positions in the U.S., according to a notice reviewed by Reuters.
The Trump administration has placed nearly all United States Agency for International Development (USAID) direct hire personnel on paid administrative leave, with the exception of those essential for critical functions. A "Reduction-in-Force" will eliminate around 2,000 USAID positions in the U.S., the notice said.
This move comes amid an ongoing effort led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to scale back USAID operations, which are a key tool for American foreign assistance and soft power abroad.
A federal judge cleared the way on Friday for the administration to place thousands of USAID workers on leave, despite legal challenges from government employee unions.
Two former senior USAID officials estimate that a majority of the agency’s 4,600 personnel, including career U.S. Civil Service and Foreign Service staff, will be affected.
“This administration is shortsighted in cutting into the expertise and unique crisis response capacity of the U.S.,” said former USAID official Marcia Wong. “When disease outbreaks occur or populations are displaced, USAID experts are often the first deployed to help stabilize and provide aid.”
USAID has received less than $100 million in exemptions from Trump’s 90-day foreign aid freeze, which halted funding for essential programs that once totaled roughly $40 billion annually.
The administration approved exemptions totaling $5.3 billion, primarily for security and counter-narcotics programs, with limited humanitarian relief included.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for further comment on these actions.
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The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.
Senior representatives from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have held talks in Miami to assess progress on the Gaza ceasefire and lay the groundwork for its next phase, according to a statement issued by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
The United States has seized an oil tanker last docked in Venezuela, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Saturday.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on Thursday evening to protest against the outgoing government, demanding fair elections and judicial reforms to address what they describe as widespread corruption.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Poland on Thursday following a summit of the European Council in Brussels.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening for an official visit, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.
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