About 1,600 workers based in the United States will be laid off as part of a "staff reduction," according to a statement on the U.S. Agency for International Development's website.
Most USAID employees will be furloughed or laid off, the aid agency said, as President Donald Trump's administration continues to cut government spending. 
About 1,600 workers based in the United States will be laid off as part of a "reduction in force," according to a statement on USAID's website. 
All remaining staff employed directly by USAID will be placed on administrative leave globally, except for those responsible for "mission-critical functions, primary leadership, and/or specially designated programs." 
The move is a step forward in Trump's effort to eliminate USAID, which has more than 10,000 employees and manages a range of humanitarian and development programs around the world. 
Earlier this month, the agency announced that all employees would be placed on administrative leave, a directive that has faced legal challenges. 
But on Friday, a federal judge overturned the order that halted the Trump administration's plans to cut USAID. 
In its statement Sunday, the agency said remaining employees who are expected to continue working will be informed by management. 
USAID added that it would fund the cost of returning employees based overseas. 
"Over the next week, we will provide detailed information on how to retrieve personal belongings from former USAID worksites and return government-issued devices," the release said. 
Trump and his allies - including billionaire Elon Musk - have alleged that USAID is rife with "fraud," but have provided little to no evidence of those accusations. 
Its budget of more than $40 billion is set by Congress, with programs ranging from governance to life-saving food aid. 
Over the years, the decades-old agency has been criticized in the aid industry for its overhead costs and whether some of its programs achieve their goals. 
Yet USAID is also a key U.S. tool for global "soft power"-a country's ability to persuade others through its appeal. | BGNES