The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been at the centre of controversy this week, with thousands of employees now being placed on leave.
As part of President Donald Trump’s broader plan to cut government waste with the help of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, this relatively obscure government office has been put on the chopping block over its $50 billion budget.
On Feb. 3, Trump decided to shut the organisation down and place all non-essential employees on “administrative leave globally,” effective as of midnight Feb. 7.
It follows an executive order signed by Trump on Jan. 20 as part of his “America First” vision, implementing a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid while it is reevaluated….