Kathmandu: The Trump administration has ordered the withdrawal of nearly all U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) workers from the field, effectively dismantling a six-decade mission that combats global poverty, disease, and food insecurity. The move, announced Tuesday, follows weeks of mass layoffs and funding freezes.
Thousands of projects in over 120 countries—including security aid for Ukraine and health programs fighting epidemics—will be abandoned. The shutdown, driven by administration officials and Elon Musk’s government-efficiency team, has sparked bipartisan backlash, with critics warning of dire humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.
Democratic lawmakers argue the administration lacks authority to dissolve USAID without congressional approval. Meanwhile, the American Foreign Service Association is preparing legal action to challenge the mass dismissals.
Source: AP