Mass Firings at USAID: Musk’s Message and Trump’s Policy Cost 2,000 Employees Their Jobs

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The Trump administration has issued a directive terminating 2,000 employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) while placing thousands of others on administrative leave. The move follows Elon Musk's recent appointment as head of the Government Efficiency Department, where he was tasked with cutting federal expenses. Musk had previously sent a mass email to government employees requiring them to report within 48 hours on their efforts to reduce wasteful spending. The administration justified the decision as part of a broader effort to curb excessive expenditure.

The notification stated that, effective February 23 at 11:59 p.m., all USAID employees—except those involved in mission-critical roles—would be placed on leave. The administration has also closed USAID’s Washington headquarters and halted several global aid programs claiming that foreign aid often leads to unnecessary spending. Employees posted abroad raised concerns about security and communication, prompting an assurance that emergency communication systems, including two-way radios and a mobile app with a panic button, would be provided.

In addition to full-time staff, hundreds of USAID contractors have also been dismissed, many receiving anonymous termination letters. Affected employees worry that the lack of clear dismissal documentation may hinder their access to unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, in a separate legal challenge, a court temporarily blocked the administration from shutting down foreign aid completely and ordered that some programs be reinstated, despite the government’s push for budgetary reforms.