Washington — Practically all workers for the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth, or USAID, might be positioned on depart Friday evening, the company introduced on its web site Tuesday evening. Earlier within the day, all abroad missions for USAID had been ordered to close down, and all workers recalled by Friday, a number of sources confirmed to CBS Information.
The statement notes that every one “direct-hire personnel” might be positioned on depart with exceptions for these on “mission-critical features, core management and specifically designated packages.” These thought of exceptions might be notified by USAID management by 3 p.m. ET Thursday, and additional steering on find out how to request an exception might be forthcoming, the e-mail mentioned.
The assertion notes the company is growing a plan with the State Division to rearrange and pay for return journey inside 30 days for USAID personnel posted outdoors the U.S. The e-mail states PSC (private service contractor) contracts and ISC (unbiased service contractor) contracts “which might be decided to be inessential might be terminated.”
It additionally says they may take into account “case-by-case” exceptions and return journey extensions primarily based on “private or household hardship, mobility, or security considerations.”
On Tuesday evening, a number of USAID staffers primarily based within the company’s Capital headquarters knowledgeable CBS Information that that they had acquired a separate e-mail notifying them that that they had been positioned on paid administrative depart.
Sources advised CBS Information that it was believed the letters had gone out to a overwhelming majority of the headquarters’ staff. A duplicate of the memo offered to CBS Information notes that staff should stay “accessible” by phone and e-mail throughout enterprise hours, however are prohibited from coming into USAID buildings.
In the meantime, the newly appointed deputy administrator for the company, Pete Marocco, met with State Division management on Tuesday and instructed them to get each USAID worker out of their respective international locations worldwide by Friday, in response to two sources accustomed to the matter. Marocco mentioned that if the State Division didn’t, the workers can be evacuated by the U.S. army, the sources mentioned.
USAID has greater than 10,000 staff, with about two-thirds serving abroad, in response to a Congressional Analysis Service report. Some 1,400 work within the company’s D.C. headquarters. The company maintains greater than 60 nation and regional missions.
The company provides humanitarian aid to greater than 100 international locations, together with catastrophe reduction, well being and medical assist, and emergency meals packages.
Moreover, all D.C.-area USAID buildings within the capital’s northern area stay closed this week, in response to an e-mail shared with CBS Information by a number of USAID staffers and contractors. The closures for USAID buildings in Washington, D.C., have been expanded to incorporate amenities in each Springfield, Virginia and Leesburg, Virginia.
The Trump administration has targeted USAID because the president and his allies — together with billionaire Elon Musk, the top of the Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE — search to chop the scale of the federal authorities.
The way forward for the company — which was established in 1961 to fight poverty, strengthen democracy and shield human rights and international well being — is now unsure.
Musk has mentioned the company must be shut down, arguing that it is “past restore.”
When requested Tuesday whether or not he would wind down USAID, Trump advised reporters, “It sounds prefer it.” The president additionally praised Musk for scrutinizing the company.
“Have a look at all of the fraud that he is discovered,” Mr. Trump mentioned, including that funding has gone to “all types of teams that should not should get any cash.”
However Dr. Atul Gawande, former USAID International Well being director, told CBS News the transfer to focus on the company is “harmful for the nation.”
“What we’re speaking about are catastrophe reduction employees, we’re speaking about well being employees and people who find themselves doing good and defending America world wide,” Gawande mentioned. “You are speaking about 20 million folks within the global HIV program that has decreased HIV world wide, they’re going with out remedy that retains them alive. You are speaking about illness outbreaks that aren’t being stopped, like bird flu, the place monitoring has been turned off in 49 international locations.”
In fiscal yr 2023, USAID managed greater than $40 billion in appropriations, the Congressional Analysis Service mentioned, an quantity that’s lower than 1% of the general federal funds.
Most of that funding went to governance packages, supposed to assist develop and strengthen democratic governance, adopted by humanitarian and well being packages, in response to the report. The international locations that acquired probably the most cash in fiscal yr 2023 had been Ukraine, Ethiopia and Jordan.
Employees recollects additionally embody the company’s overseas service officers, who spend years overseas, usually with their households. They’re going to have to determine logistics for his or her kids who’re in class, housing, shifting their belongings and the place they will transfer to within the U.S.
Melissa Quinn and
contributed to this report.
