Trump administration to keep 611 USAid essential staff, notice says, amid aggressive cuts
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The Trump administration had earlier planned to keep fewer than 300 staff at USAid. This is out of the agency’s worldwide total of more than 10,000.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s administration will keep 611 essential workers on board at USAid, according to a notice sent to workers at the US foreign aid agency late at night on Feb 6 and shared with Reuters by an administration official on Feb 7.
The administration had earlier planned to keep fewer than 300 staff at USAid or the US Agency for International Development.
Washington’s primary humanitarian aid agency has been a top target of a government reduction programme spearheaded by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk since the Republican President took office on Jan 20.
USAid’s staff cuts will take effect at midnight on Feb 7, the notice said.
However, a lawsuit filed on Feb 6 seeks to reverse the administration’s aggressive dismantling
The lawsuit seeks a temporary and eventually permanent order from the court restoring USAid’s funding, reopening its offices and blocking further orders to dissolve it.
The administration’s dismantling of USAid comes amid a larger proposed buyout as Mr Trump and Mr Musk pressure federal workers to leave their jobs in an unprecedented drive to overhaul the federal government.
That deadline has been extended until at least Feb 10, pending separate court action. REUTERS
