The Trump administration continued its bloodbath gutting of the U.S. Agency for International Development, cutting 2,000 workers and placing all but a fraction of other staffers on leave.
It comes after a federal judge on Friday allowed the administration to move forward with pulling thousands of domestic USAID staffers off the job and around the world.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected pleas that came in a lawsuit from employees to keep a temporarily block on the government's plan.
The agency also said it was cutting the U.S.-based workforce by about 2,000 employees.
'As of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally,' according to the notices sent to USAID workers and viewed by The Associated Press.
The purge escalates a monthlong assault on the agency by Trump and 'First Buddy' Elon Musk that has closed its headquarters in Washington and shut down thousands of U.S. aid and development programs worldwide following an effort to freeze foreign assistance.
Trump and chief cost-cutter Musk contend the aid and development work is wasteful and furthers a liberal agenda.
