Federal Workers Sue Trump Administration to Halt USAID Shutdown

Federal workers’ associations have taken legal action against the Trump administration in a bid to stop the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The lawsuit, filed in a Washington federal court by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), challenges the administration’s authority to shut down the agency.

The plaintiffs argue that USAID, a congressional creation, cannot be unilaterally dismantled by the executive branch. As the world’s leading development agency, USAID oversees billions of dollars in U.S. aid efforts, spanning critical areas such as healthcare, disaster relief, nutrition, and sex education.

However, the agency has found itself in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who leads the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In their push to shrink the federal workforce and reduce taxpayer spending, the administration has set its sights on USAID, calling for a massive restructuring.

The situation escalated on February 5 when USAID announced that all directly hired staff worldwide had been placed on administrative leave. The move followed reports that DOGE staffers had forcibly gained access to the agency’s headquarters and database. The administration has also ordered the recall of USAID personnel stationed overseas within the next 30 days.

On Thursday, the White House unveiled a drastic plan to slash USAID’s workforce from 10,000 employees to just 300, a move that has sparked outrage among congressional Democrats. Lawmakers have condemned the decision as unconstitutional and warned of dire consequences for both global development initiatives and U.S. national interests.

In their lawsuit, federal workers are demanding that the Trump administration restore USAID’s funding, reopen its offices, and reinstate employees. The suit argues that government officials “failed to acknowledge the catastrophic consequences of their actions,” not only for American workers but also for millions of people worldwide who rely on U.S. aid.

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The administration, however, remains firm in its stance. Trump’s ultimate goal is dismantling USAID and shifting its operations under the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision, insisting that U.S. foreign aid is not being abandoned—but must align with the administration’s policies.

“The United States is not walking away from foreign aid,” Rubio said during a recent visit to Guatemala. “We’re going to continue to provide aid, but it has to be programs we can defend, explain, and justify. Otherwise, we put foreign aid at risk.”