About 2,000 employees at US Agency for International Development were laid off on Sunday.
Gatekeepers News reports that a majority of the remaining full-time staff will be put on administrative leave overnight.
The US Agency workers were informed of the development in an email.
One of the emails reads, “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.”
The agency noted that the administrative leave goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday.
It added, “Concurrently, USAID is beginning to implement a Reduction-in-Force that will affect approximately 2,000 USAID personnel with duty stations in the United States.”
USAID added that those affected will receive specific notifications on Sunday, while those who are designated as essential will be informed by 5 p.m. ET.
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), one of the unions representing USAID personnel on Sunday, expressed its disappointment with the agency’s decision.
“is deeply disappointed by the administration’s hurried and callous decision to keep our dedicated public servants in limbo.”
President of the association, Tom Yazdgerdi said it, “ is deeply disappointed by the administration’s hurried and callous decision to keep our dedicated public servants in limbo.”
“Time and again, our members have shared how these reckless choices and the dehumanizing rhetoric directed at them have caused untold harm to their personal and professional lives.”
