Wed Feb 05 18:58:35 UTC 2025: ## USAID Staff Ordered Home in Mass Leave, Union Prepares Lawsuit

**Washington D.C.** – The Trump administration has ordered thousands of US Agency for International Development (USAID) direct-hire staff stationed overseas to return home within 30 days, a move that has sparked outrage and prompted legal action from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). The decision, announced Tuesday in a terse online notice, affects all but those deemed “essential” for “mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs.”

This drastic action follows weeks of upheaval at USAID, including a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance and the agency’s website being taken offline by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency.” Thousands of USAID employees have already been laid off, and numerous programs have been shut down.

The sudden recall, described as the most extreme option considered for consolidating USAID into the State Department, is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars in relocation expenses. The order impacts both foreign and civil service officers, who enjoy legal protections against arbitrary dismissal and unpaid leave. The AFSA has condemned the decision and announced it is preparing to file a lawsuit to challenge the administration’s actions.

Locally employed USAID staff, who lack the same legal protections, were excluded from a recent federal government buyout offer and face an uncertain future. The notice concluded with a simple “Thank you for your service,” leaving many employees feeling abandoned and betrayed. The administration’s justification for the mass leave remains unclear, but its impact on US foreign aid efforts and the morale of the diplomatic corps is undeniable.

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