Trump Administration Puts Majority of USAID Workers on Leave Amid Restructuring Efforts**

Most USAID staff are placed back on administrative leave as the Trump administration navigates legal challenges while pushing forward with plans to reduce the agency's workforce, affecting overseas aid initiatives.**

The Trump administration has announced that most employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are being placed back on administrative leave as of midnight Sunday. The decision affects around 2,000 employees who are being laid off as part of an ongoing "reduction in force" initiative, cited in a communication obtained by CBS News.

This latest announcement follows President Donald Trump's earlier attempts to eliminate a significant number of USAID jobs, which faced backlash and a legal roadblock when a federal judge temporarily halted these plans. However, the ruling on Friday indicated that the pause would not be made permanent, allowing the administration to proceed with its workforce reduction efforts.

An email to USAID staff specified that certain "designated personnel" involved in essential functions or holding leadership positions will be exempted from this leave. The specific number of employees categorized as critical has not been disclosed. USAID has also indicated plans to support voluntary return travel for overseas employees affected by the layoffs.

Judge Carl Nichols ruled in favor of the Trump administration's right to proceed with its personnel cuts, dismissing objections from employees who sought to stop the government's initiative. This development represents an ongoing effort by the Trump administration to shrink the federal workforce, which is part of a broader strategy to cut operational costs.

The layoffs at USAID occur amid a backdrop of criticisms directed at the agency from Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musk, both of whom have derided the U.S.'s spending on foreign aid under the banner of "America First." During a recent conservative convention, Trump asserted that the agency would be effectively dismantled, and announced that its name had been removed from its former building, which is set to house agents from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

According to the Congressional Research Service, USAID employed around 10,000 personnel, with a significant portion working abroad. The impact of the Trump administration's cuts is already being felt, as numerous global aid programs have been paused in response to the president's directives issued earlier this year. Critics warn that these actions could undermine U.S. credibility as a humanitarian partner on the global stage and pose risks to international well-being.

Fears persist that the USAID freeze could substantially hinder efforts to provide necessary assistance in over 50 countries, leading to grave consequences for global health and security, as expressed by former USAID chief Gayle Smith.