BURSTThe Trump administration is moving to formally end the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), notifying the remaining employees they will be terminated and the agency will be merged with the State Department.
The move will fully absorb all remaining USAID functions into the State Department effective July 1, and according to a reduction in force notice to remaining staff, will “obviate” the need for an independent USAID.
By Sept. 2, USAID’s operations will have been substantially transferred to State or otherwise wound down, the notice stated.
“As Secretary Rubio has said, following congressional consultations, the State Department intends to assume responsibility for many of USAID’s functions and its ongoing programming,” Jeremy Lewin, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer who joined USAID last Tuesday, wrote to staff.
“It will also obviate the need for USAID to continue operating as an independent establishment. Accordingly, the Department will seek to retire USAID’s independent operation, consistent with applicable law.”
The unilateral closing of an agency established by Congress is likely to draw immediate legal challenges.
USAID employees will be terminated either on July 1 or Sept. 2, with those in the later group responsible for “winding down” the agency.
“The remaining USAID personnel will then supervise the responsible decommissioning of USAID assets and the wind-down of the Agency’s independent operations,” Lewin wrote.