The U.S. government will place nearly all of its 10,000-strong global USAID workforce on administrative leave by Friday, February 7, 2025, as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping review of U.S. foreign aid programs. The move aligns with his administration’s broader efforts to reassess America’s role in global development and ensure aid aligns with U.S. interests.
In addition to the USAID staff cuts, Trump signed an executive order halting all U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days, citing concerns that aid programs destabilize global peace and promote policies that are “antithetical to American values.”
Trump’s skepticism of international organizations is not new. In his first term, he accused the World Health Organization (WHO) of bias toward China during the COVID-19 pandemic and pledged to “take on the corruption” in global institutions. His “America First” stance has led to pullbacks in multilateral cooperation and funding suspensions.
The impact of this policy shift is already raising concerns in countries reliant on U.S. aid. In Zimbabwe, USAID programs have provided over $300 million in aid, including $200 million annually through PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) to fight HIV/AIDS. WHO-backed health initiatives, such as mass drug administration campaigns for neglected diseases like bilharzia, have also relied on U.S. funding.
With USAID workers being sent on leave and critical programs paused, nations dependent on American aid now face uncertainty. As the Trump administration pushes forward with its foreign aid reset, the global development landscape is poised for significant change.
