As of 23:59 on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all personnel directly recruited by USAID, except for those designated for key roles, core leadership and/or designated programs, will be given a day off globally, according to the announcement from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) sent to employees.
USAID also informed staff that it is starting to cut staff and cut 2,000 jobs in the US. However, an updated release posted on USAID's website later gave a lower figure for locations to be cut, at 1,600.
The cut means many Washington employees who are on leave will soon lose their jobs, the AP pointed out.
President Trump's Deputy Director Pete Marocco pointed out that he plans to retain about 600 personnel, mainly working in the US during this time.
The move comes after a federal judge on February 21 allowed the Trump administration to plan to fire thousands of USAID employees in the US and around the world.
In particular, Federal Court Judge Carl Nichols rejected a lawsuit from USAID staff requesting a temporary halt to the government's plan.
The move is another escalation in a one-month effort to dissolve USAID, including closing its headquarters in Washington and closing thousands of aid and development programs around the world after freezing all foreign aid.
