In a significant move towards reducing government expenditure, the Trump administration has begun the process of downsizing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The agency's offices in Washington, D.C., witnessed an exodus of employees on Friday, some of whom carried boxes bearing messages seemingly aimed at President Donald Trump, who is spearheading the workforce reduction.
The administration's decision to trim the agency's staff was communicated to thousands of employees weeks in advance. A federal judge on Friday gave the green light for the administration to proceed with the mass layoffs, a step towards eliminating perceived waste in the federal bureaucracy. "We are abandoning the world," read a poignant message on a box carried by a departing staffer from USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs office.
Another departing employee chose to express a more optimistic sentiment. "You can take the humanitarians out of USAID but you cant take the humanity out of the humanitarians," her message read. As reported by Fox News, the departing employees were met by a small group of supporters and former USAID workers bearing signs of gratitude and support such as "We love USAID" and "Thank you for your service, USAID."
The scene was not without its share of emotion, as some employees were seen leaving the offices in tears. The Trump administration's plan involves a drastic reduction of the agency's workforce, intending to retain fewer than 300 out of the current 8,000 direct hires and contractors. These remaining employees, along with an unspecified number of the 5,000 locally hired international staffers abroad, are expected to manage the few life-saving programs that the administration plans to continue for the time being.
USAID has been under scrutiny, particularly from the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), for alleged wasteful spending. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, the Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman, recently highlighted several projects and programs funded by USAID that she deemed questionable. These included a $20 million project to produce a Sesame Street show in Iraq and more than $900,000 given to a Gaza-based organization called Bayader Association for Environment and Development, which she labeled a "terror charity."
The administration's decision to downsize USAID comes after President Trump imposed a 90-day pause on foreign aid and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the acting director of USAID. Government employee unions attempted to halt the mass layoffs through legal action, but U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols lifted a temporary restraining order and declined to issue a longer-term order to keep the employees in their positions.
Judge Nichols, a Trump appointee, stated that the court likely lacked jurisdiction over the unions' claims as the affected employees had not undergone an administrative dispute process. He suggested that the matter should be handled administratively under federal employment laws. Nichols' ruling stated, "In sum, because the Court likely lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs claims, they have not established a likelihood of success on the merits."
The ruling further stated that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated that they or their members would suffer irreparable injury without an injunction or that their claims were likely to succeed on the merits. The unions now have the option to approach the Washington, D.C., federal appeals court for emergency relief or a preliminary injunction.
This move by the Trump administration underscores its commitment to fiscal responsibility and efficient government spending. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate about the role and size of the federal government, a topic that continues to divide conservatives and liberals.
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