The workforce of the USAID almost reduced to nothing, says the New York Times

The Trump administration wants to reduce the number of staff from the USAID USAID Government Humanitarian Agency to less than 300 people against more than 10,000, the New York Times reported on Friday, a 97%cup.

The rare staff spared by the layoffs work in health and humanitarian assistance, said the daily, citing three familiar sources of this drastic reduction plan, which spoke subject to anonymity.

USAID officials have also been informed that around 800 programs and contracts administered by the agency were canceled, adds the daily.

Two unions representing USAID staff launched legal action on Thursday in order to obtain an injunction to stop the dismissal and forced leave of employees, according to the New York Times. They argue that the dismantling of the USAID cannot be done without the approval of the congress.

The State Department did not immediately respond to AFP’s comment request.

The measure is part of the radical offensive of Mr. Trump – and his billionaire Elon Musk ally – to cut into the workforce of the American administration.

She provoked the strong protests of Democrats and defenders of humanitarian aid and human rights worldwide.

Elon Musk qualified USAID as “Nid of vipers of Marxists (…) who hate America”. Donald Trump had declared last week that she was led by “A band of radical crazy people”.

USAID manages a budget of more than $ 40 billion, intended for humanitarian aid and development aid in some 120 countries, including the poorest in the world.

All USAID staff must be placed on administrative leave from this Friday, including abroad, according to a document from the organization broadcast on Tuesday evening on its website.

“Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (east) (Saturday 04:59 GMT), all the staff directly employed by the USAID will be put on administrative leave worldwide”with the exception of the staff deemed essential, indicates a note disseminated by the USAID on its site.

In fact, dozens of senior USAID officials have already been on leave and the agency’s headquarters in Washington is no longer accessible.

Employees working abroad and their families have 30 days to return to the United States, according to the note.

The earthquake caused to the USAID arises from the freezing of American foreign aid decided by President Donald Trump, with the exception of certain derogations whose humanitarian aid deemed vital, the time of a re -examination for 90 days of this aid .