Unions Sue Trump Administration Over USAID Cuts

Two unions representing employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration over a plan to significantly reduce the agency’s workforce. 

According to reports, USAID employees were informed that the agency’s staff, which is currently around 10,000, could be slashed to fewer than 300 workers worldwide.

The lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C., by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). The unions argue that the president does not have the legal authority to shut down or drastically cut the agency’s operations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has responded to the concerns, stating that the U.S. is not planning to completely stop foreign aid. The White House, the State Department, USAID, and the Treasury Department have all been asked to comment on the issue, but no response has been provided.

The Trump administration justifies the cuts by claiming that USAID has been inefficient and must align with the president’s foreign policy goals. These changes are part of a broader plan to streamline and reorient U.S. foreign aid.

The lawsuit challenges the president’s actions, stating that he is violating the U.S. Constitution and federal law by attempting to dismantle USAID without congressional approval. It calls for immediate action to restore the agency, including the reopening of USAID offices, the reinstatement of grants and contracts, and the removal of evacuation orders for staff.

USAID workers are expecting to be put on administrative leave starting this Friday night, adding urgency to the case. The unions argue that these actions are already creating a global humanitarian crisis and jeopardizing U.S. national security by halting critical aid programs and costing thousands of American jobs.