Washington [US], February 5: The US State Department has reportedly ordered the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) overseas offices and is moving to recall thousands of officials around the world, Reuters reported on February 5, citing two informed sources.
ABC News was the first to report on the move regarding the USAID situation , in the context of the Trump administration promoting the merger of USAID with the US State Department and officially dissolving the agency as an independent entity.
Peter Marocco, Trump's appointee to oversee USAID operations, told State Department officials that all USAID employees and their families would be recalled to the United States on February 7, a source said.
A second source said the deadline could be pushed back.
In a related development, USAID officials in many departments at its headquarters in Washington were asked to temporarily take paid leave on the afternoon of February 4 (local time), according to Reuters, citing the content of an internal notice signed by Mr. Marocco.
Reuters also quoted two USAID officials on paid leave as saying that each USAID department was asked to leave only a core team to help identify programs that needed to be shut down.
Hundreds of USAID programs worth billions of dollars that provide vital aid around the world have been suspended after President Trump on January 20 ordered a freeze on most US foreign aid . The leader wants to ensure that aid is consistent with his "America First" policy.
A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report notes that USAID has a workforce of more than 10,000 people, with about two-thirds working in overseas offices. USAID has missions in more than 60 countries and regions.
On February 3, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed the press that he was now acting director of USAID, and that afternoon sent a letter to the US Congress announcing a restructuring plan for the agency. Accordingly, part of USAID will be merged into the State Department, and the rest may be eliminated.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
