USAID to Place Majority of Staff on Administrative Leave Starting Friday

USAID, the US Agency for International Development, will be placing almost all of its direct-hire workforce on administrative leave beginning Friday at midnight. An email sent to staff on Tuesday evening and posted on the agency's website outlined the upcoming changes.

Administrative Leave for USAID Staff

The email stated, "On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally." Exceptions will be made for designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs. Those considered essential will receive notification by Thursday afternoon.

International Staff Arrangements

For international staff, USAID plans to collaborate with the State Department to facilitate return travel to the US within 30 days and terminate non-essential contracts. Employees have the option to request exceptions based on personal circumstances such as medical issues, pregnancy, or children's school schedules.

Recent Developments

The announcement follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decision on January 24 to pause new funding authorizations and the abrupt closure of USAID's Washington offices on Monday. Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, shared on X early Monday morning that he "spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper."

Impact on USAID

These changes will significantly impact an agency that oversees humanitarian programs in 65 countries, managing about 0.47% of the federal budget in fiscal year 2024. These programs include emergency food assistance and medical services in some of the world's most impoverished regions.

Employee Reactions

One veteran of the agency expressed mixed feelings, stating, "I feel oddly OK. Like they don't have it together and won't any time soon. They don't know what the plan is for USAID or State, and are seemingly taking pride in dismantling global aid when so many people depend on us worldwide for lifesaving services. They are doing nothing but creating more and bigger global security problems." This sentiment was shared shortly after the email was distributed.

As of now, USAID, the State Department, and the White House have not responded to requests for comment from BI.

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By: jswearingen@insider.com (Jake Swearingen)
Title: USAID to Place Majority of Staff on Administrative Leave Starting Friday
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/usaid-staff-put-on-administrative-leave-friday-midnight-2025-2
Published Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2025 03:09:32 +0000