The Trump administration is taking decisive action against what it describes as wasteful spending within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announcing that nearly all employees will be placed on administrative leave as of February 7. The move is part of a broader effort to restructure the agency, which has come under fire for its use of taxpayer funds on projects unrelated to U.S. national interests.
A notice posted by USAID on Tuesday stated that “direct hire personnel” would be placed on leave, with the exception of those deemed essential for mission-critical functions and specially designated programs. Those allowed to continue working will be notified by Thursday afternoon. The decision follows an intensified review of the agency’s operations, spearheaded by Elon Musk, whom President Donald Trump tasked with overseeing the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk has been vocal in his criticism of USAID, suggesting the agency has strayed from its intended mission. “It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm in it,” Musk said during a discussion with Senator Joni Ernst. “What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.”
Shortly after Musk’s comments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was named acting administrator of USAID. Rubio echoed concerns about the agency’s direction, stating that it had effectively become an international charity rather than a government body serving U.S. interests. “They take the taxpayer money, and they spend it as a global charity irrespective of whether it is in the national interest or not,” Rubio remarked.
As part of the restructuring, USAID is preparing to bring back all overseas employees to the U.S. while determining which contracts will be terminated. The agency is considering case-by-case exceptions for personnel facing personal or family hardships, medical concerns, or safety issues. Specific guidance on how employees can request exceptions will be provided in the coming days.
The reevaluation of USAID’s mission follows Musk’s scrutiny of the agency’s past spending. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently detailed several instances of questionable expenditures, including $1.5 million for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Serbia, $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland, $47,000 on a transgender opera in Colombia, and $32,000 for a transgender-themed comic book in Peru. These revelations have fueled criticism that USAID has misused taxpayer funds for ideological projects rather than programs that advance U.S. interests abroad.
