Trump eliminates 1.600 jobs at USAID and weakens US 'soft power' tool.

WASHINGTON, February 23 (Reuters) - The Donald Trump administration announced on Sunday (23) that it is placing all employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with the exception of leaders and essential personnel, on paid administrative leave, in addition to eliminating 1.600 jobs within the country.

This move is part of a broader effort led by billionaire Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, to downsize USAID, one of the main tools of American diplomacy through so-called "soft power," aimed at the United States' international influence.

"I regret to inform you that you are being affected by a Force Reduction action," read one of the emails sent to the laid-off workers, reviewed by ReutersThe affected employees will be removed from federal public service starting April 24th.

In a statement published on the USAID website, the agency reported that shortly before midnight on Sunday (Washington time), all direct contractors, except essential workers, would be furloughed, and the cuts would affect 1.600 workers in the United States alone. A previous notification revised by Reuters It indicated that around 2.000 jobs in the country would be eliminated.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision.

On Friday (21), a federal judge authorized the Trump administration to place thousands of USAID workers on administrative leave, representing a defeat for public employee unions that were trying to block what they describe as a dismantling of the agency.

Two former senior USAID officials estimated that most of the agency's roughly 4.600 employees, from both the U.S. Civil Service and the U.S. Foreign Service, would be impacted.

"This administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are extremely shortsighted in cutting off U.S. expertise and crisis response capabilities," said Marcia Wong, a former high-ranking official at the agency. "When disease outbreaks or mass population displacements occur, it is these USAID specialists who are on the front lines stabilizing and providing aid."

Shortly after taking office on January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid funding, freezing resources intended to combat hunger, deadly diseases, and provide shelter for millions of displaced people around the world.

The government authorized exceptions to the freeze, totaling $5,3 billion, mostly for security and anti-narcotics programs, according to documents reviewed by ReutersHowever, USAID humanitarian programs received less than $100 million in exemptions, compared to the approximately $40 billion administered annually before the freeze.