Thousands of USAID Employees to be Placed on Leave Amid Government Cuts
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
Thousands of employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on leave starting Friday night, the agency announced in a statement posted on its website.
The move will affect all "direct-hire personnel" at the agency, with exceptions made for employees involved in "mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs." This marks the latest step in a series of budget cuts by President Donald Trump, who has scaled back government-funded programs since his return to office last month.
Critics have raised concerns that these cuts could have a significant impact on global humanitarian efforts. USAID plays a key role in providing aid to over 100 countries, and the reduction in staffing could hamper ongoing initiatives to assist vulnerable populations worldwide.
In response, USAID stated that it would work in coordination with the U.S. State Department to facilitate return travel and cover expenses for employees stationed abroad, ensuring they return to the U.S. within the month.
Employees who are exempt from the leave policy will be notified by 3:00 PM EDT (8:00 PM GMT) on Thursday.
Concluding the announcement, USAID expressed its gratitude to its staff, stating, “Thank you for your service.”
The agency, which employs approximately 10,000 individuals worldwide, with two-thirds working abroad, is a crucial player in global humanitarian and development assistance.
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