Workers at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) gathered for a somber farewell to their offices today, as the Trump administration continues its controversial dismantling of the foreign aid agency. Under strict federal escort, employees arrived at the agency’s Washington headquarters in designated 15-minute slots to collect their belongings, marking a painful conclusion to decades of international development work.
The move follows a sweeping directive from President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Trump adviser Elon Musk, aimed at significantly reducing the size of the federal government. As part of this effort, more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid programs and $60 billion in global assistance have been eliminated, with more than 5,600 employees either fired or placed on leave.
The closure of USAID has sparked strong reactions from staff and supporters. Outside the headquarters, well-wishers clapped and honked car horns in solidarity as employees left the building, some in tears. Signs and banners thanking the workers for their service were displayed, with one reading: “YOU Made America Great! Thank You USAID.”
“USAID’s work has represented the best of the United States to the world,” said David Radcliffe, a retired Army veteran and former Department of Defense official. “It makes no sense from a policy perspective.”
Amid the agency’s shutdown, lawsuits have been filed by nonprofit organizations and international development groups, challenging the legality of Trump’s executive orders that halted funding and terminated employees without congressional approval. The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court’s order requiring the release of billions in frozen aid, with Chief Justice John Roberts stating that the high court will weigh in further on the matter.
Legal experts and congressional representatives, including Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly, have criticized the administration’s decision, calling it “unwarranted and unprecedented.” Connolly emphasized that USAID has been the “world’s premier development and foreign assistance agency” and has saved millions of lives every year through humanitarian programs.
Despite bipartisan concerns, Republican majorities in both the House and Senate have largely refrained from intervening in the administration’s efforts. With USAID’s foreign aid contracts effectively dismantled, the future of U.S. humanitarian assistance and global development efforts rem