US President Donald Trump on Sunday, February 23, laid off more government employees and ordered thousands to go on compulsory leave. The latest layoffs affected employees from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), with 2,000 workers reportedly dismissed overnight.
The decision follows a ruling by federal judge Carl Nichols, who on Friday denied a request to temporarily halt the administration’s plan to fire USAID employees. Soon after the ruling, Trump swiftly issued a notification enforcing the layoffs. However, staff involved in mission-based essential tasks, key leadership roles, and specially assigned programs have been exempted.
As a result, USAID's Washington headquarters has been shut down, and thousands of global aid and development programs have been put on hold. The decision has sent shockwaves abroad, especially among those dependent on USAID’s assistance.
To ensure emergency communication, personnel stationed overseas will be provided with a mobile app featuring a two-way radio and a panic button. The government informed the court about this provision as part of its contingency plan.
Trump has previously dismissed thousands of employees, and now the administration is set to review the suitability of remaining staff. As part of this process, employees will reportedly undergo lie detector tests. The Trump administration suspects that confidential government files may have been leaked, prompting the U.S. Department of the Interior to announce polygraph tests for employees to prevent further leaks.