Two government unions representing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) workers filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday, claiming that the agency’s overhaul is “unconstitutional and illegal.”

The lawsuit, brought by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, accuses President Donald Trump of triggering a global crisis through his decision to pause certain USAID programs.

The suit follows a post on the agency’s website Tuesday, which revealed that nearly all of its employees would be placed on leave while the administration reviews how taxpayer dollars are being allocated, the Daily Wire reported.

“These actions have generated a global humanitarian crisis by abruptly halting the crucial work of USAID employees, grantees, and contractors. They have cost thousands of American jobs. And they have imperiled U.S. national security interests,” said the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Trump is reportedly planning to cut staffing levels at the agency from the thousands to the hundreds.

In addition to Trump, the lawsuit names Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants, accusing them of violating the separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act. Rubio was appointed acting director of USAID on Monday, the outlet noted further.

“Not a single one of defendants’ actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization. And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency,” the suit added. 

Under Trump, the State Department ordered a freeze on funding for foreign aid but allowed exceptions for “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” which included support for “core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance.”

Elon Musk and his team at Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” have been central to the efforts to reduce USAID’s operations. On Monday, Musk stated that Trump had authorized him to begin shutting down the agency due to its excessive spending on ideological projects.