&w=3840&q=100)
Trump orders full scale cut of USAID's overseas workforce
US State Secretary Marco Rubio directed the suspension of the agency's entire international workforce. The responsibilities of foreign assistance programs will now be transferred to the department read more
US President Donald Trump has ordered the slashing of all USAID overseas positions by the end of September, in a move that will dramatically restructure the country's remaining foreign aid operations.
The Guardian obtained the cable of the order issued by the State Department, where Marco Rubio directed the suspension of the agency's entire international workforce. The responsibilities of foreign assistance programs will now be transferred to the department.
'The Department of State is streamlining procedures under National Security Decision Directive 38 to abolish all USAID overseas positions,' the order read, adding that the transfer will take effect on June 15.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
How will it affect aid?
The directive impacts hundreds of USAID employees worldwide, including foreign service officers, contractors, and locally hired staff in over 100 countries. US embassy chiefs of mission have been instructed to prepare for these extensive changes to take effect within four months.
The layoffs at USAID were brought in by the Department of Government Efficiency's (Doge) former chief, Elon Musk, who eliminated 86 per cent of USAID's programs in just six weeks after Trump took office.
Internal documents reveal that senior agency officials warned Senator Rubio about the potentially devastating consequences of the cuts, including leaving 1 million children without treatment for malnutrition, causing up to 160,000 malaria-related deaths, and resulting in 200,000 additional cases of childhood paralysis from polio over the next ten years if the reductions were carried out.
'Devastating'
Last month, in an ironic turn of events, Trump said that his administration's cuts to the US Agency for International Development and its aid programs worldwide have been 'devastating.'
Speaking beside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a White House visit, Trump was asked about his cutting most foreign aid by a reporter who said the decision had significant impacts in Africa.
'It's devastating, and hopefully a lot of people are going to start spending a lot of money,' Trump said in the Oval Office.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Those who spoke bravely are all dead': Donald Trump says he gave Iran 60-day ultimatum; warns 'it will only get worse' as Israel holds lethal US weapons
A major flashpoint in the Middle East erupted into open military confrontation overnight, with Israel launching its most expansive airstrikes on Iran in decades, targeting the country's military command and nuclear infrastructure. In a dramatic twist, US President Donald Trump claimed credit for setting the stage, citing a 60-day ultimatum he says he gave Iran, even as his own officials denied direct American involvement in the operation. 'Today is Day 61': Trump ties himself to Israeli strikes Despite earlier statements by senior Trump administration figures, including secretary of state Marco Rubio , distancing the US from the Israeli attack, Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to suggest the strikes followed a countdown he had initiated. "Two months ago I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to 'make a deal,'" Trump wrote. "Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn't get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!" In another lengthy post, Trump described warning Iran in "the strongest of words" and claimed Iranian commanders "didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!" He added, "There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left." Israel's Operation Rising Lion Early Friday, Israeli fighter jets and drones struck key Iranian military and nuclear facilities in what Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed "Operation Rising Lion." The strikes killed six top nuclear scientists and several senior military commanders. Israeli officials declared the operation a necessary pre-emptive strike to dismantle Iran's weapons capabilities. "This operation will continue for as many days as it takes," Netanyahu said in a video message, warning of further action against the Iranian regime. Iran retaliates Within hours, Iran responded with a heavy barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Explosions echoed across central Israel into early Saturday as missile defense systems were activated and civilians were urged to take shelter. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted military airbases and weapons production centers that were 'sources of the criminal aggression.' A senior Iranian official told CNN, 'Everyone will feel it,' referencing further possible retaliation and threats to strike regional bases of any nation that aids Israel. Trump walks a fine line While Trump openly praised the Israeli operation—calling it "excellent" in remarks to ABC News—he continued to insist the US played no active military role. "We gave them a chance, and they didn't take it. They got hit—very hard. And there's more to come. A lot more," he told to ABC News. Still, the mixed signals out of Washington have raised eyebrows. Just a day earlier, Trump had called for peaceful diplomatic resolution with Iran.
India Today
32 minutes ago
- India Today
We knew everything, still hopes for nuclear deal: Trump on Israel's Iran strikes
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that his administration had advance knowledge of Israel's strikes on Iran, calling the raids 'excellent' and 'very successful' while insisting that it's still 'not too late' for Tehran to return to the negotiating table on its nuclear program.'We knew everything,' Trump told Reuters in a phone interview, referring to Israel's air campaign that targeted key Iranian nuclear and military facilities. 'I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out.'advertisementDespite months of urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay an attack to allow time for diplomacy, Trump expressed full support for Israel's decision to act. 'We've been very close to Israel. We're their number one ally by far,' the president said, emphasizing Washington's backing while also appearing unfazed by the risk of wider war. 'We'll see what happens,' he added when asked about the potential for regional Israeli fighter jets bombed Iran's Natanz nuclear complex, ballistic missile factories, and military headquarters in the largest Israeli air operation in recent history, Trump was quick to endorse the outcome. The offensive, named Operation Rising Lion, drew both praise and concern globally.'They can still work out a deal, however, it's not too late,' Trump reiterated, striking a diplomatic tone even as missiles lit up skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in Iran's retaliatory Friday, two senior US officials confirmed that American forces helped intercept Iranian missiles aimed at Israeli growing fears of a broader Middle East war, Trump dismissed the notion that Israel's actions had destabilized the region. Instead, he emphasized strength and deterrence. 'We support Israel. Period,' one White House official said.(With inputs from Reuters)Tune InMust Watch
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Israel strikes excellent: Trump
Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Israel's attack on Iran has been "excellent" and warned that there was much to come, according to an interview with ABC News. "I think it's been excellent. We gave them a chancem and they didn't take it. They got hit hard, very hard. They got hit about as hard as you're going to get hit. And there's more to come. A lot more," Trump was quoted as saying by an ABC reporter on X. When ABC News asked Trump if there was American participation in the strikes, he said: "I don't want to comment on that." On Thursday, in an operation named Rising Lion, Israel launched a sweeping attack across Iranian territory. They hit multiple high-value nuclear and military targets. The principal target of the attack was Iran's main uranium enrichment site at Natanz, where black smoke was seen billowing into the air hours after the first wave of airstrikes.
