Two unions representing USAID employees—the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)—filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to block President Trump’s plan to reduce the agency’s global workforce from 10,000 to fewer than 300. The lawsuit names Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and multiple federal agencies, accusing the administration of violating the Constitution and federal law by bypassing Congress to dismantle USAID.
Lawsuit Demands Reversal of USAID Closures, Reinstatement of Grants and Jobs
The lawsuit is calling for an urgent court intervention to:
- Appoint an independent acting USAID director.
- Reopen shuttered USAID facilities and restore its website.
- Reinstate halted grants, contracts, and 4,000+ jobs.
- Lift evacuation orders for overseas staff.
It warns Trump’s “illegal actions” have triggered a global humanitarian crisis and jeopardized U.S. national security.
Trump Administration Defends Cuts
The White House argues USAID’s current operations are “wasteful” and must align with Trump’s “America First” agenda. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the cuts in Guatemala, stating the U.S. will continue aid but only for programs that are “defendable, explainable, and justifiable.” Critics, however, claim the move risks destabilizing global health, food security, and disaster response efforts.
Elon Musk’s Role in USAID Overhaul Sparks Controversy
The lawsuit notes Elon Musk has “spearheaded” the USAID restructuring. Employees allege Musk’s push for privatization and automation has accelerated the agency’s abrupt closure. Over 9,700 workers will be placed on administrative leave starting Friday, with programs in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza among those frozen.
The lawsuit asserts only Congress holds the authority to dissolve federal agencies like USAID. “Not a single action to dismantle USAID was authorized by Congress,” the filing states, calling the staff cuts and program suspensions an “abuse of executive power.” Legal experts warn a precedent could be set for future presidents to bypass legislative oversight.
USAID Employees Prepare for Job Losses as Global Programs Grind to Halt
Employees describe chaos as grants are canceled, evacuation orders issued, and offices shuttered. “This isn’t restructuring—it’s obliteration,” said one USAID worker anonymously. Programs combating HIV/AIDS, famine, and climate disasters face immediate suspension, threatening decades of progress.
While Trump allies like Rubio frame the cuts as “fiscal responsibility,” bipartisan lawmakers warn of diplomatic fallout. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) called the lawsuit “a necessary check on executive overreach,” while some Republicans fear losing leverage in strategic regions like Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
