The USAID works about 10,000 people, two -thirds of whom are abroad – Musk has described it as “criminal organization”
The whole of the US International Development (USAID) staff – the largest humanitarian aid donor worldwide – will be on a holiday on Friday, with thousands of workers abroad, according to a document posted yesterday, Tuesday, Tuesday night. Service on its website.
Already dozens of senior USAID executives have been on holiday, and employees have been ruled out to access the service of the service in Washington.
In an unprecedented move, the richest man in the world, Ilon Musk, who has been commissioned by US President Donald Trump to “house” federal services, he said Monday that USAID would “close”.
“On Friday, February 7 at 23:59 (local time- 06:59 Greek time on Saturday) all staff working for USAID will be on holiday worldwide,” the service said in a statement posted on its website, which has been shut down since Saturday.
Some employees “responsible for the operation of critical missions (…) and special programs” are excluded from the decision.
Washington’s USAID staff plans, in collaboration with the State Department, to pay money for their return to the US within 30 days, the statement said.
“Thank you for your services,” he concluded.
The decision has shocked the service, which manages a budget of more than $ 40 billion, intended to provide humanitarian aid and development worldwide.
The USAID works about 10,000 people, two -thirds of whom are abroad, according to the Congressional Research Service, an independent body of the American Congress.
Rubio: ‘Country does not make charity’
“Trump has already called on January 20, shortly after his swearing -in to the US presidency, to freeze almost all of Washington’s humanitarian aid throughout the world through USAID as part of his policy” America first ” , causing shock to humanitarian organizations.
At the same time he asked Musk, who has described the USAID “criminal organization” to reduce the budget of the service.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the country is not being “charity”, explaining that it has been temporarily headed by USAID and accusing its staff of “not willing to answer simple questions” for service programs.
In a letter he informed Congress about the USAID restructuring, noting that some of its services may be absorbed by the State Department and others to be abolished.
USAID action
Under the legislation for its establishment, voted by Congress in 1961, USAID is an independent organization. Consequently, the US president does not have the jurisdiction to abolish it without Congress’s approval.
USAID is the largest humanitarian donor worldwide. In the financial year 2023, the US offered $ 72 billion in aid worldwide in programs that covered women’s health services, access to clean water, HIV/AIDS treatments, energy safety and corruption treatment. In 2024 the service offered 42% of all the humanitarian aid recorded by the UN.
Source :Skai
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