In a dramatic showdown, federal workers’ associations have taken legal action to halt what they describe as the Trump administration’s “effective dismantling” of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees filed their lawsuit late Thursday in a bid to restore a critical agency that has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign aid.
The suit arrives as the Trump administration, alongside billionaire ally Elon Musk, zeroes in on USAID, freezing its funds and placing nearly all its employees on leave. The lawsuit argues that President Trump lacks the legal authority to shutter an agency established by Congress, seeking an urgent court order to reopen USAID offices, reinstate staff, and restore funding.
Earlier that day, the administration unveiled a controversial plan to slash staffing levels, potentially leaving fewer than 300 employees to manage essential aid projects worldwide. This drastic downsizing comes in stark contrast to the current workforce of approximately 8,000 direct hires and contractors, alongside around 5,000 local international staff. Reports indicate that those remaining would be responsible for a limited number of life-saving programs the administration intends to maintain for now.
The uncertainty surrounding the future of these staff cuts looms large. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to the Dominican Republic, assured the public that the U.S. would continue its foreign aid efforts, albeit in a manner aligned with national interests. “It is going to be foreign aid that makes sense,” he stated confidently.
Under the administration’s sweeping budget cuts, USAID has faced unprecedented challenges, with most of its programs effectively frozen since President Trump’s inauguration. The proposed changes could see the agency’s functions absorbed into the State Department, a move critics argue is illegal without congressional consent. As the legal battle unfolds, the future of U.S. foreign aid hangs in the balance, sparking fierce debate over the role of government in global humanitarian efforts.
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