The newly appointed deputy administrator, Pete Marocco, met with State Department leadership and instructed them to recall every USAID employee from their respective countries. If the State Department didn’t comply, the staff would be evacuated by the U.S. military, according to a CBS News story. The directive issued February 4, 2024, the only post on USAID.gov placed all USAID direct hire personnel on administrative leave on February 7, 2025, with the exception of designated personnel. The directive concluded with, “Thank you for your service.” Thus begins the demise of an agency that brought hope from America to millions in dire need around the globe

Numerous news outlets, some behind paywalls, are also reporting on internal State and USAID emails indicating that 800 contracts and grants will be terminated.  These are decisions taken before the review process has even begun.

Senior USAID staff submitted a list of around 600 essential employees, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved less than 300 for exclusion from the policy. This has led to a drastic reduction in staff, with only 21 employees remaining in the Middle East Bureau and 12 in the Africa Bureau. The Global Health Bureau will be reduced from 147 to 77 people.

The cuts have been criticized as “stunning and irresponsible” and have led to legal action by unions. A lawsuit by the union representing USAID employees argues that the administration’s actions, including stop work orders, funding freezes, and staff reductions, are unlawful and exceed presidential authority. The drastic reduction in workforce, from about 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees, is causing significant disruptions and threatening U.S. national security interests.

On February 7, 2025, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to place 2,200 USAID employees on administrative leave, agreeing with the unions that the move exposes staff and their families to unnecessary risk and hardship. The judge also reinstated 500 employees who had already been placed on leave. The temporary restraining order remains in effect until February 14th.

Read more details in the CBS News report here, and the New York Times here, which may be behind a paywall.