Trump administration moves to eliminate USAID, firing remaining employees

The Trump administration is moving to formally end the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), notifying the remaining employees they will be terminated and the agency will be merged with the State Department.

The move will fully absorb all remaining USAID functions into the State Department effective July 1, and according to a reduction in force notice to remaining staff, will “obviate” the need for an independent USAID.

By Sept. 2, USAID’s operations will have been substantially transferred to State or otherwise wound down, the notice stated.

Jeremy Lewin, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer who joined USAID last week, said the State Department “will seek to retire USAID’s independent operation, consistent with applicable law.”

“As Secretary Rubio has said, following congressional consultations, the State Department intends to assume responsibility for many of USAID’s functions and its ongoing programming,” Lewin wrote.

“It will also obviate the need for USAID to continue operating as an independent establishment. Accordingly, the Department will seek to retire USAID’s independent operation, consistent with applicable law.”

Lewin wrote that the State Department will administer USAID’s “remaining lifesaving and strategic aid programming.”

It’s not clear which specific USAID programs would survive the transfer.

The unilateral closing of an agency established by Congress is likely to draw immediate legal challenges.  

According to a memo to Congress obtained by CNN, just 900 employees remain at an agency that once employed 10,000.

USAID employees will be terminated either on July 1 or Sept. 2, with those in the later group responsible for “winding down” the agency.

“The remaining USAID personnel will then supervise the responsible decommissioning of USAID assets and the wind-down of the Agency’s independent operations,” Lewin wrote.

The Trump administration has characterized USAID as an agency rife with fraud and worked to quickly dismantle it in his first few weeks in office. Thousands of employees have already been fired or placed on indefinite administrative leave. 

Trump also sought to freeze almost all foreign assistance programs pending an administrative review, including lifesaving health and medical assistance.

Staff and supporters of the agency, however, contend that while it may have needed some reforms, it served a critical function. 

It provided food assistance and medical care, while also investing in education and economic programs to stabilize countries, reduce migration and combat the influence of terrorist organizations.

USAID’s medical help included grants for HIV treatments and prevention. It also funded nutrition assistance programs for infants in developing countries.

“Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago.  As a result, the gains were too few and the costs were too high,” Rubio wrote in a Friday statement. 

“Thanks to President Trump, this misguided and fiscally irresponsible era is now over.“

However, before becoming part of the administration, Rubio routinely praised USAID.

“Anybody who tells you that we can slash foreign aid and that will bring us to balance is lying to you. Foreign aid is less than one percent of our budget. It’s just not true,” Rubio said in 2019 while speaking to the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.

That same year he posted a photo from a USAID facility in Colombia preparing to dole out food assistance in Venezuela, calling President Nicolas Maduro “pure evil” for trying to prevent the food from reaching the country.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, praised USAID’s work Wednesday as a vital national security tool, questioning whether regions abandoned by the agency would feature in next year’s threat assessment.

“We're no longer helping struggling nations in Africa. China, or worse, terrorists are filling the vacuum. I wonder how many of those African countries will be named in next year's threat assessment. Thanks to DOGE, the men we paid to guard the most vicious ISIS terrorists in the world in Syria walked off the job,” he said.

The notice ends with a thank you to staff saying that they “will not be forgotten” – a sentiment not well taken by fired staff.

“Secretary Rubio, myself, and the rest of the front office are grateful for your continued service to our great nation. I would like to offer a special thank you to those of you who, even amid considerable personal and professional uncertainty, have remained steadfastly committed to serving the Agency and its important mission,” Lewin wrote.

“You exemplify the very best ideals for public service and will not be forgotten or overlooked in this transition process.”

This story was updated at 4:31 p.m.