Fatma Tanis

The Trump administration is terminating thousands of foreign assistance grants and awards, according to a court filing. The move effectively guts the six-decade-old agency.

The decision comes in the wake of a judge's ruling that such a move will not cause irreparable harm to the employees. There will be exceptions for several hundred employees in roles deemed critical.

The case, brought by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees, is intended to block the administration's efforts to dismantle USAID.

From Day 1, the Trump team has issued a series of orders and statements aimed at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

After Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved less than 300 essential personnel to continue in jobs past Friday, unions representing USAID workers sue the Trump administration over cuts to the agency.

In a brief note posted on the international development agency's website, almost all employees were told they would be put on leave. The note ended with the words, "Thank you for your service."

All departments were affected, including offices that address HIV and AIDS, infectious disease and child health.

On Monday, top officials at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were put on leave for allegedly not abiding by President Trump's executive order to freeze much of U.S. foreign aid.

The Mexico City Policy cuts off U.S. aid to health groups in other countries that offer abortion services or counseling. As in 2021, Trump has reinstated this policy, which was deactivated by Biden.

Following Trump's Monday freeze on foreign aid, a subsequent memo calls for for a stop-work order for current grants and contracts.