In a shocking move, the Trump administration has taken a significant step towards dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leaving thousands of employees without jobs. As of Monday, all but a fraction of USAID staffers worldwide were told they were on leave, while at least 1,600 U.S.-based staffers were notified of their termination.

This drastic measure is part of President Donald Trump’s broader campaign to slash the size of the federal government, with cost-cutting ally Elon Musk by his side. The goal, according to Trump and Musk, is to gut the six-decade-old aid and development agency.

The move comes after U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a lawsuit from employees seeking to block the government’s plan. On Friday, Judge Nichols allowed the administration to proceed with its plan to pull thousands of USAID staffers off the job in the United States and around the world.

This development is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Trump administration to dismantle USAID. Within hours of Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, he issued an executive order suspending new foreign assistance programs for 90 days.

The implications of this move are far-reaching, and it remains to be seen how the dismantling of USAID will impact global aid and development efforts.