The Trump administration is set to drastically reduce staffing at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), cutting its workforce from over 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees, according to foreign media reports.
The remaining staff will primarily include specialists in health and humanitarian assistance, The Times reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the plan.
In response, two unions representing USAID employees filed a lawsuit on Thursday against former President Donald Trump and his administration, seeking an injunction to halt the mass layoffs and prevent the agency’s dismantling. The lawsuit argues that such a move cannot be executed without congressional approval.
The State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment, but reports indicate that around 800 awards and contracts managed by USAID are also being canceled.
This comes after the agency announced on Tuesday that its staff—both in the U.S. and abroad—were being placed on administrative leave, with plans to recall employees from overseas postings.
The move is part of a broader effort by Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to significantly shrink the U.S. government, a plan that has sparked outrage among Democrats and human rights organizations.
USAID, a key arm of U.S. foreign policy, funds health and emergency relief programs in about 120 countries, including some of the world’s poorest regions. It is widely regarded as a crucial tool of American soft power, particularly in competition with global rivals such as China, where Musk has extensive business interests.
