The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a cornerstone of American humanitarian outreach for over six decades, is being dismantled under the directive of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Former senior officials and sources familiar with the situation confirmed the agency’s closure will be finalised by September.
A conference call held on Monday between USAID’s human resources office and regional bureaus revealed that more than 10,000 locally hired staff in over 60 countries will be terminated by August. Additionally, hundreds of U.S. diplomats and civil servants assigned to the agency abroad are also receiving layoff notices.
A summary of the call reviewed by Reuters stated: “Every position eliminated; 100 percent of the agency is rif’d (Reduction in Force) or will be.” All overseas operations are to be shut down, and some of USAID’s functions will be absorbed by the State Department.
President Donald Trump, along with Musk—his appointed advisor for streamlining government operations—began the dismantlement in February. The move is part of an effort to align foreign assistance with Trump's “America First” agenda. The State Department has not responded to requests for comment.
So far, over 5,000 aid programmes have been terminated. Hundreds of contractors were fired, and thousands of USAID staff placed on administrative leave. Musk has accused the agency of being a “criminal” operation, while Trump has labelled it as corrupt and ideologically compromised—both claims made without evidence.
The cuts impact major humanitarian efforts in countries like Ukraine, Jordan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Aid to the West Bank and Gaza—already stretched by war—has also been disrupted. The Congressional Research Service notes USAID channels most of its funds to health, education, and emergency response initiatives.
Critics warn that sudden termination of local staff could breach labour laws in host countries and destabilise already fragile regions. As of now, 600 U.S. diplomats assigned to USAID overseas are set to be dismissed by July, when the agency plans to close “all programmatic work.”
Once regarded as the world’s largest bilateral aid organisation, USAID is being erased—quietly, rapidly, and without public debate. The consequences may echo well beyond the agency’s final days.
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Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
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The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
Israel warned on Thursday it will unleash an even wider offensive in Gaza unless Hamas frees its remaining hostages, a threat issued as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 55 people across the enclave, according to local medics.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
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China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
The United States is set to host an energy summit in Alaska in early June, where President Donald Trump’s administration hopes Japan and South Korea will commit to the $44 billion Alaska LNG project, a major energy initiative aimed at expanding U.S. gas exports to Asia.
Israel warned on Thursday it will unleash an even wider offensive in Gaza unless Hamas frees its remaining hostages, a threat issued as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 55 people across the enclave, according to local medics.
Russia said its air defences shot down 87 Ukrainian drones over four border regions early Thursday, while simultaneous missile-and-drone strikes on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Indonesia is pressing for a “fair and square” trade deal with Washington, senior ministers said, as Jakarta hustles to head off a 32 % U.S. tariff by offering to boost American imports by up to $19 billion while safeguarding its own economic interests.
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his appeals against a corruption conviction, with a ruling from 2023 sentencing him to nearly nine years in prison for money laundering and bribery.
The U.S. military said a missile explosion that killed at least a dozen people near a UNESCO site in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was caused by a Houthi-fired weapon, not an American airstrike, countering local claims and intensifying scrutiny over the rising civilian toll in the conflict.
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