The Trump administration withdraws almost all USAID workers from work around the world

Washington – The Trump administration says that she shoots almost all American agency for international development Workers out of work and out of the field in the world, switching to everyone except put an end to a mission of six decades to consolidate American security by fighting famine, in financing education and working to end the epidemics.

The administration informed the workers of the USAID in the emails and A review published online On Tuesday, the last of a sudden dismantling of the assistance agency by the appointments of politicians returning from the first mandate of President Trump and the Elon Musk government efficiency teams who call a large part of programs at the ‘stranger.

The order takes effect just before midnight Friday and gives direct hiring of the agency abroad – many of which have frantically wrapped households waiting for the ad – 30 days to return home unless they do not are considered essential. Entrepreneurs who are not determined to be essential would also be dismissed, according to the opinion.

This move had been subjected to several days. Thousands of USAID employees had already been laid down and programs worldwide after the Republican President imposed a freezing of foreign assistance. Despite the outcry of the Democratic legislators, the aid agency was a special target as a new administration and Musche, which calls for its budgetary relassipulation team, the Government Ministry of efficiency, seeks to shrink the federal government.

They ordered an expenditure stop which paralyzed assistance and development work funded by the United States in the world, emptied the senior management of USAID and the workforce with content and layoffs , and closed Headquarters of Washington to staff members Monday. The legislators said that the agency’s computer servers had been transported.

“I spent the weekend feeding Usaid in the wooden shredder,” boasted Musk on X.

The mass removal of thousands of staff abroad and Washington would condemn billions of dollars in projects in some 120 countries, including security assistance to partners such as Ukraine As well as the development work for drinking water, vocational training and education, including for schoolgirls under the domination of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The United States is by far the largest humanitarian donor in the world. However, he spends less than 1% of his budget on foreign aid, a lower share of his budget than certain countries.

Health programs such as those credited to help put an end to polio epidemics and smallpox and an acclaimed HIV / AIDS program that has saved more than 20 million lives in Africa has already ceased. Thus, monitoring and deploying rapid response teams for contagious diseases such as an Ebola epidemic in Uganda.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in food and medication already issued by American companies are in ports due to the sudden closure of the agency’s administration.

Democratic legislators and others say that USAID is registered in legislation as an independent agency and cannot be closed without the approval of the congress. Supporters of the USAID of the two political parties claim that his work abroad is essential to counter the influence of Russia, China and other adversaries and rival, and to cement alliances and partnerships.

The decision to withdraw staff from direct rental and their families earlier than their planned departures will likely cost the government of tens of millions of dollars in travel and relocation costs.

Staff on leave include both external service agents and the public service who have legal protection against arbitrary dismissal and on leave without reason.

The American Foreign Service insurance, the union which represents the American diplomats, sent an opinion to its members denouncing the decision and saying that it was preparing a legal action to counter or the judgment.

USAID staff employed locally, however, do not have much appeal and have been excluded from the federal government’s voluntary buyout offer.

The staff and families of the USAID faced heartbreaking decisions while the order of rumors is looming, in particular by leaving school children in the middle of the year. Some have given cats and dogs for pets, fearing that the Trump administration would give them time to fill the documents to bring the animals with them.

Tuesday’s opinion said that he would take into account the exceptions on a case -by -case basis for those who need more time. But with most employees of the agency who, it was not clear who would not deal with these claims or other documents necessary for the removal of mass of thousands of members of foreign staff.

Musk teams had put the USAID website offline during the weekend and returned online on Tuesday evening, with the notice of recall or dismissal for global employees of his only position.

The announcement came as secretary of state Marco Rubio was on the tour of five nations from Central America and met the USAID Embassy and staff in two of the USAID Missions in the region: El Salvador and Guatemala on Monday and Tuesday.

Journalists accompanying Rubio were not allowed to attend the so-called meeting and Greet sessions in these two countries, but had been authorized to participate in a similar event in Panama on Sunday during which Rubio praised the employees, in particular The inhabitants, for their dedication and their service.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Rubio said that he had “long supported foreign aid. I continue to support foreign aid. But foreign aid is not a charity.” He noted that Each dollar that the United States spends had to advance its national interests.

The online opinion indicates that those who will be exempt from leave include staff members responsible for “critical mission functions, basic leadership and specially designated programs” and are informed by Thursday afternoon.

“Thank you for your service,” concluded the opinion.

Knickmeyer and Lee write for the Associated Press. Knickmeyer reported to Washington, Lee de Guatemala City.