The USAID is confronting a crisis as a policy forces nearly 10,000 employees into administrative leave, with only around 300 deemed essential by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This drastic reduction raises concerns about the agency's ability to function effectively. With the Middle East Bureau reduced to 21 employees and the Africa Bureau retaining just 12, morale is plummeting among staff. Reports from anonymous insiders highlight despair and fears about the agency's future capabilities amid these cutbacks, likening the experience to a horror film as employees are cut off from their work.
"There is no bottom to this stupidity," said one USAID staffer who asked to speak anonymously for fear of reprisal from the Trump administration.
"Might as well shut it all down. 290 people won't be able to do anything," said a USAID official, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press.
Only 21 employees will be actively working at the end of the day on Thursday in the Middle East Bureau, with an even smaller number in Africa.
During a virtual staff meeting on Monday, people started leaving one by one as their access was cut off. 'It was like from a horror film,' they said.
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