USAID Utterly Obliterated – Rubio Announces 97% of Staff Gone – Africa, Asia to Share 20 Staffers Total
Recent reports indicated that the trump governance is significantly downsizing the U.S.Agency for international Development (USAID).According to sources cited by Reuters, the staff will be reduced from around 10,000 employees to just 294, representing a drastic 97% cut. The New York Times revealed that under the current plan, only a handful of individuals will manage projects across various global regions.
Critics, including former USAID leaders, have expressed outrage over these reductions. The State Department has yet to comment on the changes, which come in the context of efforts initiated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who criticized USAID for alleged insubordination. Rubio aims for a more streamlined agency, questioning the effectiveness of current programs. Additionally, approximately 800 USAID contracts are being canceled, raising concerns about the agency’s future operational capacity.
New reports said the Trump administration is gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development.
A report from Reuters based on sources it did not name said that when the cutting is done, 294 people will work for an agency that has had about 10,000 employees. If accurate, that would be a 97 percent reduction.
According to The New York Times, a screenshot of an from Joel Borkert, the acting USAID chief of staff, said the current plans is to have 12 people working on projects in Africa, eight covering Latin America and the Caribbean, 21 focused on Middle East projects, and eight devoted to Asia.
The Times reported, the plan is to retain 78 people in the bureau of humanitarian affairs and 77 in the bureau of global health.
“That’s outrageous,” J. Brian Atwood, a former USAID leader, told Reuters.
The State Department did not comment on the Times or Reuters reports.
USAID has been scrutinized by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration said directly hired USAID workers will be put on leave and all foreign personnel were being recalled.
The Times report, which also quoted sources it did not name, said that USAID officials are pushing back against the proposed staffing levels.
In addition to the staff cuts, the Times report said about 800 awards and contracts USAID administers are being canceled.
Rubio told Fox News this week that USAID has gone rogue in recent years, accusing it of “rank insubordination” and saying, “We had no choice but to bring this thing under control.”
Rubio said USAID staffers “don’t consider that they work for the U.S. They just think they’re a global entity and that their master is the globe and not the United States, and that’s not what the statute says, and that’s not sustainable.”
Rubio indicated a leaner, more focused USAID is his goal.
“There are things that we do through USAID that we should continue to do, that make sense, and we’ll have to decide, is that better through the State Department or is that better through something, you know, a reformed USAID? That’s the process we’re working through,” he said.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said USAID has been trying to cover up its spending, according to Fox News.
“USAID’s spending shows a blatant disregard for the wishes of American taxpayers, and it is time to disrupt the system,” Ernst said.
“The agency has been wasting millions of tax dollars on things like tourism in Lebanon, Sesame Street in Iraq, sending Ukrainians to Paris Fashion Week, and so much more.”
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...