“Tremendous Fraud” Trump To Keep Only 294 of 10,000 USAID Staff, Mocks Their ‘Ridiculous’ Projects

The Trump administration has unveiled plans to slash USAID’s global workforce of over 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees, sources told Reuters. The cuts would leave just 12 staff in the Africa bureau and eight in the Asia bureau, effectively dismantling the agency. Former USAID chief J. Brian Atwood, who led the agency for six years, criticised the move, calling it “outrageous” and warning it would devastate a vital institution that has saved millions of lives. Despite USAID’s historical achievements, President Trump and businessman Elon Musk, who spearheaded a government reorganisation programme, have labelled staff “criminals”. The decision comes in stark contrast to the past advocacy of USAID initiatives by Melania and Ivanka Trump, who praised the agency’s global aid efforts. Melania partnered with USAID during her 2018 solo trip to Africa, while Ivanka launched a $50 million Women’s Global Development and Prosperity initiative in 2019. However, recent White House memos criticised USAID’s funding practices as unaccountable, sparking controversy over its future. Documents also revealed Ivanka used USAID funds for White House event equipment in 2019, further fuelling scrutiny. n18oc_world n18oc_crux