January 27, 2025 – The Trump administration has placed about 60 senior career officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave, sources familiar with the matter said, following a sweeping freeze on US aid worldwide. The administration urged USAID staff on January 25 to help transform how Washington allocates aid globally in line with President Trump’s “America First” policy and threatened “disciplinary action” for any staff ignoring its orders.
An internal memo sent to USAID employees on January 27 evening stated that the new leadership identified several actions in the agency that “appeared to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people.” Acting Administrator Jason Gray said in the memo, reviewed by Reuters, “As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice while we complete our analysis of these actions.”
The administration’s actions threaten billions of dollars of life-saving aid from the world’s largest single donor. In fiscal year 2023, the US disbursed US$72 billion (S$97.28 billion) in assistance, providing 42 percent of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.
The memo did not specify how many people were affected by the decision, but six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that it was around 57 to 60 people. Those being put on leave comprised career staff in leadership positions of almost all USAID bureaus based in Washington, with roles ranging from energy security to water security, children’s education, and digital technology. Staff in the agency’s general counsel’s office were also targeted.
“People are calling it the Monday afternoon massacre,” said Francisco Bencosme, who was USAID’s China policy lead until earlier in January. “This decision undermines our national security and emboldens our adversaries… Instead of focusing on China, North Korea, or Russia, the Trump Administration is going after public servants who have served multiple administrations – including the first Trump administration.”
USAID did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Politico was first to report that people were put on leave. Officials put on leave said they received an email with a memo on January 27 afternoon informing them they were being placed on excused absence, effective immediately, and no reason was provided. The memo stated they must be available by telephone and email during normal work hours and must remain available to report to work if directed to do so, but were not to enter USAID premises or access USAID systems.
One senior official put on leave said they had sought to help implement the executive orders. “This is a serious dismantling of an entire agency,” the official said.
Since returning to office last week, the Trump administration has reassigned or fired hundreds of workers in several agencies, aiming to fulfill Trump’s vow to remake a federal bureaucracy he believes was hostile to him during his 2017-2021 presidency. Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid to review if it was aligned with his foreign policy priorities. On January 24, the State Department issued a stop-work order worldwide even for existing assistance. A second memo on January 25 made it clear to USAID staff that the pause on foreign aid spending meant “a complete halt.”
The only exceptions are for emergency humanitarian food assistance and for officials returning to their duty stations. Further waivers could be issued but will require substantial justification and are subject to a double-layered approval process that includes a final say from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
USAID-funded programs help millions of people around the world fight against HIV/AIDS and provide support for everything from access to clean water, healthcare infrastructure, and children’s health. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on January 27 called for the United States to consider additional exemptions.
“If this is not reversed, it will wreck US foreign aid… It would permanently weaken USAID,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a former USAID official who is now president of Refugees International.