The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will place all its staff worldwide on administrative leave starting Friday, February 7, as President Donald Trump’s policies take effect.
The agency also announced it will recall all American employees from overseas assignments.
In a statement, USAID said the leave will apply to all direct-hire personnel, except those handling mission-critical functions and specially designated programs.
"Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM (EST)," the statement read in part.
This decision threatens over 35,000 jobs in Kenya, where USAID funds major health and emergency programs.
Globally, the agency supports humanitarian projects in about a hundred and twenty countries.
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| US President Donald Trump |
For staff posted outside the U.S., USAID is coordinating with missions and the State Department to facilitate their return within 30 days.
It will also terminate contracts deemed non-essential, though exceptions may be considered based on personal hardships, medical needs, or school schedules.
This development follows the U.S. government’s freezing of over $ 13 million in funding for the Kenya-led security mission in Haiti.
The UN confirmed the move, saying the U.S. requested an immediate stop-work order on its contribution.
The security mission, involving nine hundred officers from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Belize, has struggled to make progress in stabilizing Haiti.
While backed by the UN Security Council, the mission depends on voluntary funding, now facing uncertainty.
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