The Trump administration is set to dramatically scale back the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), reducing its workforce from 10,000 employees to fewer than 300, according to reports from multiple sources. The move follows an announcement from USAID that it would recall all foreign-based employees and place most staff on administrative leave, except for those involved in “mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs.”

USAID, which has faced criticism from both billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for alleged wasteful spending, will retain just 294 staff members globally. This includes only 12 employees in Africa and eight in Asia, Reuters reports. The remaining staff will focus primarily on humanitarian efforts. In addition to the workforce reduction, approximately 800 contracts with USAID have been terminated. President Trump has even suggested shutting down the agency entirely, reports the New York Times.

As part of a broader reorganization, the Trump administration plans to merge USAID with the State Department. In line with this transition, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed as the acting director of USAID.

Founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID has long served as the U.S. government’s primary agency for foreign aid and humanitarian assistance. In the 2023 fiscal year, the agency operated on a $43.4 billion budget, with funds allocated to foreign governance initiatives ($16.8 billion), humanitarian aid ($10.5 billion), healthcare programs ($7 billion), and other international projects.

On the first day of his second term, President Trump issued a 90-day pause on U.S. foreign development assistance and stated that USAID was being “run by a bunch of radical lunatics.”

Beyond USAID, the administration has moved to reduce costs in other federal agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that 168 employees have been placed on leave to comply with Trump’s executive order to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Additionally, the administration has offered buyouts to federal employees, allowing them to resign with severance payments through September.