Bangladesh, Feb. 5 -- The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced an unprecedented global furlough of nearly all its employees, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. As of February 7, 2025, approximately 10,000 staff members will be placed on indefinite administrative leave, while two-thirds of them have been given 30 days to return to the United States. The move marks a significant shift in US foreign policy, as Trump reassesses the role of USAID and broader foreign aid initiatives.

President Trumps executive order, signed in early January, mandated a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid programs. The sweeping measure has led to widespread uncertainty, layoffs, and the suspension of numerous de...