U.S. President Donald 8Trump’s abrupt decision to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has left thousands of employees in shock and raised concerns over the fate of critical humanitarian programs worldwide.
The move, part of Trump’s plan to cut federal spending, has placed nearly all of USAID’s 10,000 employees on leave, with staff expressing confusion and distress. Many fear for their jobs, while aid workers stationed abroad remain uncertain about their future.
“I have been physically sick for the past week, stressed, anxious, not sleeping,” one employee said. Another described the situation as “utter confusion and outright malignment from leadership.”
The closure threatens food aid, water, and sanitation programs for millions, including Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and displaced populations in Sudan. Critics warn of “catastrophic” consequences, dismissing the administration’s claim that life-saving aid will continue.
With USAID’s $40 billion budget mandated by Congress, Trump and his allies cite alleged fraud—without clear evidence—as justification for the shutdown. Meanwhile, employees and humanitarian groups brace for the devastating impact of the agency’s closure.