Trump Administration Cuts USAID Workforce, Places Thousands on Leave:

As noted in a communication sent to agency workers which Reuters reviewed, the Trump administration reported on Sunday that it intends to place most USAID staff around the world on paid administrative leavewhile also getting rid of 2,000 positions in the United States.

The communication further stated that effective midnight on Sunday all United States Agency for International Development direct hire personnel will be placed on leave except those employees considered vital to the performance of key functions. At the same time, the agency claims to be ‘starting to execute a reduction in force’ which will impact approximately 2,000 USAID workers in the USA.

The White House did not reply right away to the requests for comment made by ABC News.

As a part of the American Soft Power strategy of formenting foreign aid to gain foreign influence, the Treasury of Billionaire Elon Musk has been filling in strides to wipe out USAID, as the lesser version of American foreign assistance.

On Friday a federal judge sided with the Trump administration, allowing for the use of the furloughs, making efforts against USAID employee unions who have already begun suing on the grounds that it was never meant to be used this way.

Two ex-officials of USAID claimed that out of the 4,600 USAID employees, which include the Civil and Foreign Servants, a majority would be put on admin leave.

Marcia Wong, one the former officials stated: “This administration and Secretary Rubio are shortsighted in cutting into the expertise and unique crisis response capacity of the U.S. When disease outbreaks occur and populations are displaced, these USAID experts are the first deployed to aid and help stabilize the situation.”

The second ex-officer who chose to remain anonymous said, “Unsigned notices like these are not self implementing. They need to be followed up by a specific personnel action, or at the very least, an approved leave slip from an authorized person.”

Shortly after assuming office, Trump decided to put a halt to all foreign assistance programs, costing millions of people starving and suffering from deadly diseases as well as the displaced people some funds.

Via a list of exemptions examined by Reuters which consisted of limited humanitarian assistance, it was revealed that the administration has lifted a portion of the freeze that sums up to $5.3 billion, mainly for security and attacks on drug trafficking.

The list reveals that USAID programs were granted exemptions worth less than $100 million. This is in contrast to the approximately $40 billion worth of USAID programs that were implemented on a yearly basis prior to the suspension.