Sri Lanka, Feb. 5 -- The Trump administration has announced that all directly hired employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be placed on administrative leave globally starting February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST). The decision, posted on the USAID website, affects over 10,000 personnel, two-thirds of whom serve overseas.

While some staff responsible for mission-critical functions and designated programs are exempt, the agency is recalling most overseas personnel within 30 days. USAID leadership will consider exceptions based on personal hardship or security concerns.

The move comes as President Donald Trump seeks to merge USAID with the State Department, potentially dismantling it as an independent entity....