A number of U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth staffers cleared out their offices on the company’s Washington headquarters on Thursday, saying they have been disheartened after Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity laid them off or placed them on leave.
“The extra I speak about it, the extra I wish to cry,” stated Amanda, who labored in science and know-how at USAID and didn’t wish to share her final identify out of worry of retribution, as she waited to enter the constructing to get her issues. “It is heartbreaking.”
Lucy Mize, second from proper, a United States Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) well being officer for 31 years, cries as she walks with fellow USAID employees to the USAID headquarters in Washington, to collect private belongings, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Many staffers stated they acquired an e-mail late Sunday informing them they have been positioned on administrative go away and have been later assigned 15-minute home windows to enter the constructing and collect their belongings. Worldwide, 4,080 USAID employees have been positioned on go away on Monday, and there was a “discount in power” of an extra 1,600 employees, a State Division spokesman advised the Related Press.
These selecting up their belongings on Thursday have been cheered on by tons of of mates, household and supporters outdoors as they exited the constructing with bankers containers, reusable baggage and suitcases.
“It feels profoundly disrespectful to employees, to people who find themselves dedicating themselves to creating issues higher globally, making issues higher elsewhere in order that they do not come right here, so the issues do not come right here,” Melissa, who additionally didn’t share her final identify, stated of the quick time they have been allotted.
She beforehand labored on democracy packages in Ukraine and anti-corruption efforts.
“I imply and we’re all folks, proper,” she added. “We’ve children to deal with, we’ve got dad and mom to take [care] of who’re getting older and we’re all battling that as properly.”
Former United States Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) workers terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the company acquire their private belongings on the USAID headquarters on Feb. 27, 2025 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos
Caitlin Harwood, a mom of a 4-year-old woman and a 9-month-old, stated she is “frightened” about her subsequent paycheck and is uncertain what’s subsequent for her.
A rustic desk officer with USAID for Mozambique, she advised ABC Information that whereas she believes the federal government could possibly be made extra environment friendly, she takes concern with the way Musk’s team has done it.
“I feel there is a method to go about that. I do not assume anyone would have been as terrified as they’re now if that they had come by way of and stated we’re going to have a program overview,” Harwood stated.
“So, this isn’t effectivity, and it is really costing the American folks billions in {dollars} in wasted meals, wasted medication,” Harwood added.
Laid-off U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) probationary worker Juliane Alfen reacts after USAID employees cleared out their desks and picked up private belongings, throughout a sendoff in Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Ben Thompson labored in communications previous to being laid off by USAID and stated he had been below a “communications freeze” because the early days of the Trump administration.
“Highly effective, evil males are concentrating on a number of good individuals who have devoted their lives to one thing greater than themselves, which is one thing that any person like Elon [Musk] cannot relate to,” Thompson advised reporters. “This clearly is not about authorities waste, fraud and abuse. He is not going by way of with a fine-toothed comb — he is tearing down our establishments for enjoyable.”
Samantha Energy, the USAID administrator below former President Joe Biden, went contained in the Ronald Reagan Constructing, which homes the company’s headquarters, and spoke with employees Thursday morning.
“What’s being completed is among the largest blunders in American international coverage historical past. It’s one which generations of Individuals will look again on in horror,” Energy advised ABC Information. “However the best way it is being completed, the cruelty, the savagery, the mercilessness, is an outrage, and it ought to, no matter you concentrate on international help — to deal with American public servants who wish to do nothing greater than serve their nation, serve the American folks, to deal with them in the best way they’re being handled ought to chill and horrify all of us.”
Energy stated she hoped USAID employees “bear in mind the lives you have touched.”
Folks show indicators throughout a sendoff after laid-off U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) employees cleared out their desks and picked up private belongings, in Washington, D.C., Feb.27, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Some supporters gathered outdoors had traveled hours to be in Washington to cheer on employees as they exited the constructing.
Diana Putman advised ABC Information she drove 3 1/2 hours to get to Washington from Pennsylvania that morning “as a result of I wanted to be right here to assist my colleagues.”
Putman retired from USAID in 2022 after spending her complete decadeslong profession with the company. She adopted within the footsteps of her father, who had begun working with USAID in March 1962 — simply 5 months after it was based.
“USAID actually is the preeminent improvement company of the world, and our mushy energy has meant so, a lot all over the world for the final 60-plus years,” Putman stated. “The optimistic face of the American folks will now not be seen all over the world.”
An exterior shot of the Ronald Reagan Constructing, which homes the USAID workplace, as ousted USAID employees cleared out their desks on Thursday, February 27, 2025. (Kelly Livingston/ABC Information)
(Kelly Livingston/ABC Information)
When supporters arrived, black tape had been positioned over the identify of USAID on the indicators outdoors of the Ronald Reagan Constructing. Kate Parsons, a employee who was laid off final week from the the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Help, ripped the tape off. She stated she’d come out to assist her colleagues.
“I do not know who put that tape up, however I do know that USAID continues to be right here. We’re nonetheless right here,” Parsons advised ABC Information.
“Solely Congress can shut down USAID — it is a authorities company. The present management is making an attempt to dismantle it. They’re making an attempt to do it so rapidly and so sloppily that individuals do not discover or folks cannot cease it, however they have not fired us all but,” Parsons added. “This struggle will not be completed but.”
The signal outdoors the doorway of the Ronald Reagan Constructing in Washington, D.C., the place black tape had been positioned over the USAID workplace identify previous to an illustration for ousted USAID employees who have been requested to filter their desks on Thursday, February 27, 2025. (Kelly Livingston/ABC Information)
(Kelly Livingston/ABC Information)
USAID employees stated they need the general public to be pleased with the work they did.
“We love the American folks. We’re right here to serve. That is what bureaucrats are,” Harwood, the mother of two younger kids, stated when requested about her message to the general public. “We’re nonpartisan. We had a mission. We have been so proud to serve it. And we hope we did you proud.”
