Federal workers file suit against Trump order to shut down USAID

Federal workers associations in the United States have asked a federal high court in Washington to stop the Donald Trump administration from shutting down the United States Agency for International Development. The lawsuit was filed by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

The workers argued that USAID is a creation of Congress, which the executive branch of government cannot dismantle.

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USAID has been actively engaged in countries, implementing a wide range of programs aimed at addressing critical development challenges and promoting sustainable growth. Its scope of operations includes healthcare, disaster relief, nutrition, and sex education.

Trump and Elon Musk head of the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, have targeted USAID as part of a wide-ranging move to shrink the federal workforce and save taxpayer funds.

On February 7, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel were placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel were expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership.

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On Thursday, the Trump administration presented a plan to dismantle USAID — which would see the agency reduced to 300 staff from 10,000.

Democrats in Congress have described the administration’s moves as unconstitutional.

In their suit, the workers are asking the court to compel the Trump administration to reopen USAID buildings, return employees to work and restore funding.

They said government officials “failed to acknowledge the catastrophic consequences of their actions, both as they pertain to American workers, the lives of millions around the world, and to US national interests”.

On Wednesday, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, during a visit to Guatemala said USAID must align its programmes with the policies of the Trump administration to move forward.

He said, “The United States is not walking away from foreign aid. It’s not We’re going to continue to provide foreign aid and to be involved in programmes, but it has to be programmes that we can defend.
“There have to be programmes that we can explain. It has to be programmes that we can justify. Otherwise, we do endanger foreign aid.”