Two unions representing staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and his administration, seeking to stop planned mass layoffs that would reduce the agency’s workforce from over 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees.
The Trump administration is planning to significantly downsize the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), reducing its staff from over 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees. The remaining personnel will focus on health and humanitarian assistance.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association, names Trump, acting USAID Director Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the State Department, USAID, and the Treasury Department as defendants. The unions are requesting an injunction to block the job cuts and prevent the dismantling of the agency.
The Trump administration has defended the move, with Rubio stating that most USAID employees will be placed on administrative leave starting Friday at 11:59 p.m., except for those in “exceptional circumstances.” Employees will have 30 days to arrange their return travel with the State Department.
Critics argue that shutting down USAID, which provides billions in humanitarian aid worldwide, is illegal without congressional approval. USAID operates in 65 countries, offering medical assistance, food aid, HIV treatment, and support for people in conflict zones. In 2024, it spent $32.5 billion, with major funding directed to Ukraine, Jordan, and Ethiopia.
Trump and Elon Musk have both criticized USAID, calling it wasteful and politically biased. Musk labeled the agency a “criminal organization” on X.
Legal analysts describe the lawsuit as a major challenge to Trump’s efforts to overhaul foreign aid, with many Democrats warning that dismantling USAID could set a dangerous precedent. The White House has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
