‘Holding Us Hostage’: Inside Trump and Musk’s USAID Shutdown Fiasco: Report

Former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have effectively shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leaving employees in chaos and uncertainty. Nearly all USAID staff have been placed on administrative leave, with no clear guidance on whether they will be paid or how to handle their employment status. Overseas workers, who make up two-thirds of USAID’s workforce, are being recalled, with many facing job termination and uncertainty about how they and their families—including pets—will return to the U.S., reported RollingStone.com.

Musk, who has called USAID a “criminal organization,” claims Trump’s approval to dismantle the agency through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The shutdown has been chaotic, with USAID workers locked out of their email, struggling to communicate, and left in limbo. Many learned about their recall through news reports rather than official channels. The State Department, which is set to absorb USAID, has offered vague assurances about repatriation but has not provided clear logistical or financial plans.

The rushed nature of the shutdown is expected to cost the administration significantly more in emergency repatriation expenses than a structured transition. With government funding running low and approvals stalled, many USAID employees now face the prospect of being stranded overseas. The situation has caused widespread panic and confusion, with officials struggling to determine who is even left in the government to address their concerns.