April 23, 2025 7:10 pm
Full News

Trump Administration Puts 60 USAID Officials on Leave Amid Global Aid Freeze

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.

Related News
India in Talks with US for Combat Vehicles and Fighter Jet Engine Deal
Hamas To Release Six More Hostages This Week: Netanyahu
U.S. Expresses Concern Over Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh, Condemns Violence
World Bank Group’s $100 Billion Replenishment Aims to Overcome Multidimensional Poverty
Asia’s Surging LNG Prices Drive Up Household Power Bills
Iran Warns Six Regional Countries of Serious Consequences
Related Posts
MIDI Strategic Vision: Analysis of Development and Economic Impact in Bangladesh.
Title: South Asia’s Growth Prospects Declining Alarmingly: World Bank
India Declares Pakistani Military Advisers ‘Persona Non Grata’
India Cancels Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan Following Kashmir Attack
Swachip Office Vandalized Amid Political Turmoil : Bangladeshi Doctors’ Body Blames ‘Illegitimate Yunus Government’
Modi Avoids Pakistani Airspace on Return from Saudi Arabia
More News

Congress Urges Centre to Safeguard Minorities in Bangladesh

The Indian National Congress has expressed deep concern over the atmosphere of insecurity faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. On Wednesday, November 27, Congress urged the central government to appeal to the Bangladesh government to “take necessary steps and ensure the security of life and property of minorities in the country.” This statement followed the […]

Former Officials Demand Closed-Door Hearings on Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s Intelligence Nominee

Nearly 100 former US diplomats, intelligence officials, and national security experts have called for Senate leaders to hold closed-door hearings to assess Tulsi Gabbard’s qualifications as Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI).The bipartisan group expressed alarm over Gabbard’s past actions, including her controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and statements […]

Trump to Stop Another War

The newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, has initiated efforts to end the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. He has stated that a truce should be reached through negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible. Although his inauguration is just hours away, Trump has already begun working toward ending […]

Missing context in Yunus’s narrative at Dhaka Investment Summit 2025

Ashequn Nabi ChowdhuryJournalist, Author, Former Diplomat Professor Muhammad Yunus is renowned for his persuasive public speaking skills, capable of captivating audiences and shaping narratives to serve his interests. At the recent Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 in Dhaka, he once again seized the spotlight by delivering a passionately charged speech that garnered international attention. With dramatic […]

Dastagir Jahangir Exposes Controversial Extremist Links of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, Presses U.S. State Department

Bangladesh’s current interim government, increasingly labeled as an illegal administration backed by extremist Islamists and militants, has sparked global outrage. The controversy deepened with revelations about Mahfuj Alam, an aide to Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus, whose connections to extremist groups like Hizb-ut-Tahrir have resurfaced through his social media activities and past affiliations.Mahfuz is the most […]

Ashley Greene Lands Lead Role in Sci-Fi Thriller

Twilight star Ashley Greene has secured her next lead role in the upcoming sci-fi action film Kill Him ‘Til He’s Dead. According to Deadline, the movie follows a “broken-down hitman” who finds himself waking up in different bodies while attempting to save the love of his life from a ruthless tech titan and his deadly […]

‘Climate diplomacy’: Can smog bring India and Pakistan together?

Pakistan Punjab’s chief minister wants to start a dialogue with her Indian counterpart for a joint effort to tackle deadly air pollution, which has enveloped cities on both sides of the border. Islamabad, Pakistan – Relations between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India have largely remained tense and stagnant for years. Now, an unlikely catalyst is […]

Journalist’s Body Found After Exposing Corruption

The entire journalist community is mourning the death of Mukesh Chandrakar, a brave freelance journalist from Chhattisgarh, India. Mukesh, who remained steadfast in his fight to expose corruption and reveal the truth, was found dead on Friday (January 3) in a septic tank of a house in Bijapur district. According to a report by Al […]

Iran and the United States Resume Nuclear Deal Talks

For the second time, long-time rivals Iran and the United States have resumed discussions regarding a potential nuclear agreement. The latest round of talks began on Saturday, April 19, at the Omani Embassy in Rome, Italy. This follows a previous meeting held last week in Oman. Prior to the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi […]

Bangladeshi Law Adviser of the Interim Goverment of Bangladesh Under Fire for Sharing Video Urging Boycott That Critics Say Promotes Antisemitism

April 7, 2025 —A recent social media post by Dr. Asif Nazrul, a law professor at Dhaka University and a well-known public intellectual in Bangladesh, has ignited widespread backlash and international condemnation for promoting what critics are calling clear antisemitism. The controversy centers around a Facebook share by Dr. Nazrul of a video originally posted […]