International Media: US development aid staff reduced to 300
According to reports, only a few hundred employees will be working for the US development aid agency USAID from the weekend. US President Donald Trump's administration will reduce the number of staff from more than 10,000 to around 290 jobs, the New York Times reported, citing three people with knowledge of the plans. The broadcaster NPR reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been presented with a list of around 600 employees whose work is considered essential worldwide. However, Rubio had exempted fewer than 300 from the exemption.
07.02.2025, 08:56
SDA
Lawsuit against Trump's plans
Meanwhile, two employee representatives sued Trump's government on behalf of USAID employees, as several media outlets reported in unison. The plaintiffs argued that the staff cuts and the termination of international aid contracts were unconstitutional and violated the separation of powers. Only the US Congress could dissolve the development aid agency. With the lawsuit filed with a federal court in Washington, the trade unions want to stop the dismantling of USAID and the redundancies, according to the statement.
Trump had already had the agency's funds frozen in January during an internal review. He repeatedly stated that USAID was being run by radical "lunatics" who were wasting taxpayers' money. This week, the US government announced that it would lay off most of its staff from the weekend. All direct employees are furloughed as of 11:59 p.m. (Washington time) on Friday - with the exception of employees in essential positions and certain programs. Those affected by exemptions will be notified one day in advance, it said.
More than 10,000 employees
Around 10,000 people work for the agency, two thirds of them outside the USA. Last year, around 50 billion US dollars (48 billion euros) were invested in development aid projects. The sudden loss of US development aid would weigh heavily. The USA is considered the largest donor country in the world. According to the New York Times, the small group of remaining staff includes employees who specialize in health and humanitarian aid.
