The Trump administration has dismissed over 1,600 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), while additional staff members have been placed on paid administrative leave.

The move is part of a broader “reduction in force” strategy, as confirmed in an official communication from the Office of the Administrator at USAID.

According to the BBC, the layoffs follow a series of legal battles that President Donald Trump’s administration faced when attempting to downsize the agency. Initially, Trump aimed to dismantle USAID entirely, but legal hurdles temporarily halted the plan. However, a recent court ruling lifted the block, allowing the layoffs to move forward.

A notice sent to USAID employees stated that as of 11:59 p.m. (local time) on Sunday, February 23, all direct-hire personnel—except those handling critical mission functions, core leadership roles, and designated programs—would be placed on global administrative leave. While essential employees will continue their work, the exact number of those retained remains undisclosed.

Billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been pushing for reforms within USAID, has led efforts to scale back the agency’s operations.

USAID has long played a key role in advancing U.S. foreign policy through international aid and development programs. Pete Marocco, USAID’s deputy administrator and a Trump appointee, indicated that around 600 U.S.-based employees would remain to manage logistics and assist with relocating overseas personnel and their families.