USAID workers placed on administrative leave 'until further notice'
Employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are being placed on administrative leave with pay "until further notice," according to letters reviewed by The Hill.
Employees must be available by phone and email during business hours, according to the notice, which provides an email for them to contact "to end that."
The letters come after most USAID employees lost access to internal systems over the weekend as Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency put the agency through a "woodchipper."
One USAID employee said they felt "helpless" after receiving the letter.
Another said they were "disappointed that our lawmakers in the majority seem complicit or at least tacitly approve."
One employee who lost access Monday said they had not received a copy of the letter to their personal email.
"So once again, I'm left in the dark," they said.
The letter was sent by Pete Marocco, who Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly tapped Tuesday to run USAID.
Neither USAID nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment from The Hill and questions about how many USAID employees received these letters.
A second internal communication reviewed by The Hill specified "USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs" on Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Essential personnel can expect to hear from Agency leadership by Thursday at 3 p.m.
"For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons," the notice stated.
The same message has been posted on USAID.gov, which has been dark since Saturday.
Updated at 9:32 p.m. EDT
-
USAID announces nearly all direct hires will be placed on administrative leave
USAID announced Tuesday night that almost all direct hires around the world will be placed on administrative leave later this week.NBC News - 27m -
State Department Puts ‘All Direct Hire’ USAID Personnel on Administrative Leave
The US government’s primary foreign aid agency has employees stationed all over the world, many of whom are now bracing to abruptly leave their posts.Wired - 1h -
USAID worker-turned-lawmaker: 'This is no way to govern'
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), a former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employee, was among a chorus of Democrats on Monday blasting the turmoil surrounding the agency. “You have ...The Hill - 1d -
Musk says administration is on verge of shutting down USAID
Elon Musk, the administration's billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO, says the administration is on the verge of shutting the U.S. Agency for International Development.CBS News - 1d -
Two top security officials at USAID placed on leave, sources say
USAID Director for Security John Vorhees and Deputy Director for Security Brian McGill were put on leave last night, two sources confirmed to CBS News.CBS News - 2d -
Ohio State football staffer under investigation, placed on administrative leave in December, per reports
Joe Lyberger, who assists with the team's linebackers, has not yet been informed of specific accusationsCBS Sports - 6d -
Trump administration puts about 60 USAid officials on leave after aid freeze
Memo said some actions in agency ‘appeared to be designed to circumvent’ Trump’s orders and ‘America First’ policy. The Trump administration has put on leave about 60 senior career officials at the ...The Guardian - Jan. 28 -
More than 50 career civil servants at USAID are placed on administrative leave
The action targeted senior leadership across the agency, including top lawyers, three sources told NBC News.NBC News - Jan. 28 -
Federal workers placed on leave by Trump's DEI order are angry and fearful of what lies ahead
Longtime federal workers say they have become pawns in a battle for political control, that their DEI work is misunderstood and that they are under surveillance.NBC News - Jan. 23
More from The Hill
-
Texas House Republican says US could use drones against cartels to 'save American lives'
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), co-chair of the Border Security Caucus, said on Tuesday the United States “could” use drones against the cartels if it meant saving American lives. NewsNation reported ...The Hill - 32m -
Grassley pushes for Senate committee vote on Patel as early as next week
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he’s eyeing next week for a final committee vote on Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI, rejecting Senate Democrats’ request for a ...The Hill - 1h -
5 takeaways from the Trump, Netanyahu joint presser
President Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his proposal for Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip and announced that the U.S. will take over the tiny territory in a joint press conference alongside ...The Hill - 2h -
Musk meets with Netanyahu, his son Yair
Tech billionaire Elon Musk met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his son Yair Netanyahu. “So grateful to spend time with these two geniuses,” Yair Netanyahu captioned a Tuesday ...The Hill - 2h -
Newsom to meet with Trump at White House on Wednesday
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is set to meet with President Trump at the White House on Wednesday, an official told The Hill. The governor will be the first Democrat to go to the White House to ...The Hill - 2h
More in Politics
-
Texas House Republican says US could use drones against cartels to 'save American lives'
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), co-chair of the Border Security Caucus, said on Tuesday the United States “could” use drones against the cartels if it meant saving American lives. NewsNation reported ...The Hill - 32m -
Grassley pushes for Senate committee vote on Patel as early as next week
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he’s eyeing next week for a final committee vote on Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI, rejecting Senate Democrats’ request for a ...The Hill - 1h -
Trump’s plan to ‘take over’ Gaza Strip confuses GOP lawmakers
Politico - 2h -
5 takeaways from the Trump, Netanyahu joint presser
President Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his proposal for Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip and announced that the U.S. will take over the tiny territory in a joint press conference alongside ...The Hill - 2h -
Musk meets with Netanyahu, his son Yair
Tech billionaire Elon Musk met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his son Yair Netanyahu. “So grateful to spend time with these two geniuses,” Yair Netanyahu captioned a Tuesday ...The Hill - 2h