USAID staff will be put on leave starting on Friday

The move is the latest in a concerted effort by the Trump administration to shut down the US international aid agency.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersUSAID staff will be put on leave starting on Friday13 hours agoAna FaguyBBC NewsGetty ImagesThousands of employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on leave from Friday night, the agency says.

A USAID statement said the order would affect all "direct-hire personnel" except those on "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs".

It's unclear exactly which jobs are affected. The statement, posted on the agency's website, said employees would be notified by Thursday afternoon.

The Trump administration has said USAID is wasting money and needs to align with the president's policy priorities. Agency staff, backed by Democratic lawmakers, have protested over the cuts, saying they will put lives in danger and hamper national security.

President Donald Trump's earlier decision to freeze foreign assistance has upended the global aid system, with effects already felt in multiple countries.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx253xjnxrmo

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