Althouse: "The email said appointees running U.S.A.I.D. were firing 2,000 employees based in the United States...."

February 24, 2025

"The email said appointees running U.S.A.I.D. were firing 2,000 employees based in the United States...."

"The mass firings are part of a series of layoffs of agency employees by the Trump administration during a broad effort to halt almost all U.S. foreign aid using a blanket freeze. The moves came after a judge ruled on Friday that the Trump administration could proceed with plans to lay off or put on paid leave many agency employees and close down operations overseas...."

From "Trump Appointees Fire 2,000 U.S.A.I.D. Employees and Put Others Worldwide on Leave/The announcement, by email, came two days after a judge said the Trump administration could proceed with plans that amount to dismantling the aid agency" (NYT).

50 comments:

rehajm said...: One divided by…a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.; 2/24/25, 7:52 AM
n.n said...: Dark money used to sabotage democracies, fund ethnic Springs, and other methods of waste, fraud, abuse joyfully entertained by the kleptocracy. Planned Parenthood? #HateLovesAbortion; 2/24/25, 7:58 AM
Aggie said...: Money Launderers, Secret Democrat Paymasters, and Partisan NGOs hardest hit.; 2/24/25, 8:02 AM
Cappy said...: Cool!; 2/24/25, 8:03 AM
Jaq said...: I would be ecstatic if this is the only thing that Trump were able to accomplish. To nuke the machine behind the endless wars. People don't realize that we have created the wars we have fought in since the fall of the USSR because USAID made sure that there was plenty of propaganda to go around.

It takes dedicated effort, reading the history of the 20th century, and not just from favored sources, spending a great deal of time thinking about things like "how did WWI start" and examine things like "Operation Gladio" where CIA trained terrorists did attacks in Europe that they blamed on "The Red Guard" etc, etc, etc. Nobody is going to come to understand this stuff based on a few comments on the web, especially as they pay people to post disinformation on sites like this.; 2/24/25, 8:05 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: "One divided by…a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."

A great disturbance in the farce.; 2/24/25, 8:08 AM
Aggie said...: ..."has overseen the dismantling of the aid agency, working alongside Elon Musk, the tech billionaire adviser to President Trump who has posted dark conspiracy theories about U.S.A.I.D...."

I notice they didn't add 'without evidence' to those 'dark theories'. Among other things, the NYT has also noted "The only exceptions to the leave ........ according to a copy of the email obtained by The New York Times."

Yes.... Good old Signal, being used to secretly leak the internal emails. That's going to dry up a little too, isn't it? This voter says: Good.; 2/24/25, 8:08 AM
wildswan said...: Let's look at the real people being recalled from, say, Chile (where they were teaching LGBTQ to Catholics.) Two scenarios. They come back now with pay and travel assistance; they come back when the US declares bankruptcy on their own if they can. Those are the real choices for the real people.; 2/24/25, 8:09 AM
mccullough said...: Going off the rails on the Gravy Train; 2/24/25, 8:12 AM
Gusty Winds said...: They all took the poison mRNA vaccine for nothing.; 2/24/25, 8:18 AM
rehajm said...: Which GOP Senator(s) will be assigned the Crisis of Conscience(tm) to help Washington restore this scam?; 2/24/25, 8:21 AM
narciso said...: so one of elons busy elves, 'big balls' is the grandson of a Russian asset, betrayed by Aldrich Ames; 2/24/25, 8:23 AM
Dude1394 said...: Donald J Trump may literally be Rushmore worthy if he can pull this off. God speed.; 2/24/25, 8:29 AM
Gusty Winds said...: It is really hard to feel any sympathy when all these liberal bureaucrats applauded when people lost their jobs for refusing to take the poison mRNA vaccine.; 2/24/25, 8:38 AM
gilbar said...: not tired of winning, yet; 2/24/25, 8:40 AM
Enigma said...: @Gusty Winds: "all these liberal bureaucrats applauded when people lost their jobs for refusing to take the poison mRNA vaccine."

What about all the military and law enforcement bureaucrats who WERE fired refusing mRNA jabs? What about the bureaucrats who were forced to undergo humiliating weekly testing when they refused the vaccines?; 2/24/25, 8:44 AM
The Tangerine Tornado said...: Why would NYT use the term "appointees running"? Can anyone come up with other words that don't sound so obscure? Are we talking Cabinet Secretaries? Assistant Secretaries? Deputy Assistant Secretaries? High Level Officials or Officers? It's almost like they don't want to impart legitimacy upon these persons. They want you to imagine teenage valet handed the keys to the Aston Martin and they're about to careen it into a dumpster.; 2/24/25, 9:04 AM
narciso said...: passive voice is the Times weapon of choice,; 2/24/25, 9:05 AM
Eva Marie said...: “Jeff Bezos' aerospace company, Blue Origin, is laying off about 1,000 workers, according to media reports.“ Feb 2025
“ Amazon Plans on letting go of at least 10,000 of its employees. This layoff will be their largest layoff yet. These cuts will primarily affect people in their device's organization. This is partly because most of their devices, Including Alexa, need to sell. There will be a minor set of cuts in their retail division, including but not limited to online shopping, physical retail, and a chunk of their firm's logistics team. The new CEO is clearly on a mission to save money because Amazon has had a very disappointing third quarter. ” Nov 2022
Companies need to save their money: That’s ok.
Government needs to save OUR money: mean President Trump; 2/24/25, 9:10 AM
Jamie said...: What about all the military and law enforcement bureaucrats who WERE fired refusing mRNA jabs? What about the bureaucrats who were forced to undergo humiliating weekly testing when they refused the vaccines?

The word "all" is working hard here. I'm certain that there were some. But... based on my admittedly limited experience working in a government bureaucracy and having relatives who work in government bureaucracies, I would be surprised to find that a large percentage of bureaucrats were actually Ron Swanson.

Bring a bureaucrat is not a sin. But as has been pointed out by many, non-bureaucrats have been subject to stuff like this - layoffs, corporate bankruptcies, "move or be fired" putaitively optional relocations, reductions in hours, pay cuts - forever. What makes the bureaucrats, who still receive pensions, generous paid time off, generous paid OJT, free financial advice, good medical coverage including mental health coverage, worthy of exemption?; 2/24/25, 9:10 AM
The Vault Dweller said...: @Gusty Winds

I am sympathetic to mostly anyone who loses their job. People need money to keep their day to day lives going and losing a job puts everything in flux and adds tremendous worry. While I"m sure there are some Federal Employees who are layabouts, I assume the overwhelming majority do actually put normal, decent levels of effort into their job, even if their job compared to what they do and what they are are paid wouldn't really be worth it to the American Taxpayer. What makes it hard for me to feel sympathy for Federal Workers is when I see statements like this from the FedNews Subreddit.

"This is a direct insult to our profession, to the sacrifices we make by choosing public service over higher-paying private-sector jobs, all out of a deep sense of duty to our country."

The self-aggrandizement and fake nobility is eye-rolling. You work your job because it pays the bills. Stop pretending you are doing some highly virtuous act by working what you perceive to be the best job you can land. Also, as another commenter pointed out a few days ago, if they have been sacrificing a better paying job in the private sector then this firing is no big deal and in fact they will come out ahead.; 2/24/25, 9:13 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Its amazing how Democrats and liberal/left are always working 24/7 to find the levers of power and control them. And how to get control of the Government and start rewarding themselves with public tax dollars. Meanwhile, the DC Republicans don't seem interested in doing anything except please their Big Business Donors. Gaining Power? Having an Agenda? what's that?

Its why Trump was saying the truth, when he said if it wasn't for him, the Republican party wouldn't even exist. Imagine if Nikki haley or Chris christie had been our nominee? LOL!; 2/24/25, 9:13 AM
narciso said...: even if we didn't have a Hamas loving fan girl at AID, like Samantha Power, the odds we could find enough employees that actually promote US interests, are pitifully small; 2/24/25, 9:23 AM
Gusty Winds said...: Enigma said...
What about all the military and law enforcement bureaucrats who WERE fired refusing mRNA jabs? What about the bureaucrats who were forced to undergo humiliating weekly testing when they refused the vaccines?

As a simple litmus test, those are the employees who should be rehired, reinstated, or promoted. They're the smart ones. Trump already said military personnel will be brought back in with back pay as deserved. Those that are working and want to go a good job will be found. Between the inflation of the Biden years, taxes and the rest, the middle class and poor have been doggy paddling to keep their heads above water for years. No time or money for vacations etc.

Time to balance the scale. Quit pissing away and stealing money. Give the DOGE savings back to the America people. $5k is a lot of money for most people. Most Americans can't save that in a year. Europe doesn't work themselves to the bone like the American private sector. Let them take care of themselves as well.; 2/24/25, 9:24 AM
Gusty Winds said...: The Vault Dweller said...
@Gusty Winds

The self-aggrandizement and fake nobility is eye-rolling

We have been watching and dealing with this same arrogant attitude in the public education sector and liberal American universities. They played the "holier than thou" card for way too long. Everyone is sick of it. Prior to COVID you could ignore it. But COVID awakened the screeching, finger waving beast in all of them.

Fire all the line dancing nurses too.; 2/24/25, 9:29 AM
Tom T. said...: What makes the bureaucrats ... worthy of exemption?

It's just always been part of the whole pay package. The bargain that the government entered into with it's employees was to accept lower pay (particularly at the high end of the pay scale) in return for job security. The pension is just a 401k by another name. The health insurance offers choices of lower vs. higher coverage, and the higher coverage costs more. Just because the overall structure contains tradeoffs that aren't common elsewhere doesn't make it privileged or illegitimate, and of course the people who bought into this bargain are going to be upset when it's changed.; 2/24/25, 9:32 AM
Enigma said...: @Jamie and @Gusty Winds: I phrased these as questions because with every relevant Althouse post, I see wild outsider assumptions that do not resemble what happens at all in the federal bureacracy. There is plenty of internal disagreement, and plenty of people get trapped between a rock and hard place or the devil and the deep blue sea.

I've tried to clean up the federal mess to the extent that one person on the edges without a Party's support can clean it up -- but my power has been limited. What I'm seeing with Trump/Musk is a lot of good intentions and overdue changes coupled with painful ignorance and wishful thinking. Keep in mind that Trump, Musk, Tulsi, and RFK Jr. are all Democratic converts to Republicans.

The federal workers are returning to the office full time today -- following the Fork in the Road resignations I'd bet almost all of those still working are in the office today. The DC commuting crowds are larger than any time since 2019.; 2/24/25, 9:40 AM
tommyesq said...: "The pension is just a 401k by another name. "

Not at all the same. A 401k can go down in a down market. A government pension never lowers, but does go up every year on a cost-of-living basis. - this year pensions are going up 2.95% for policemen, 4.5% for firefighters, 1.7% for civil service, 3.2% for NHS, 3.3% for teachers, 1.17% for LGPS, 4.5% for armed forces, and 1.7% for the judiciary.; 2/24/25, 9:55 AM
Jaq said...: "The bargain that the government entered into with it's employees was to accept lower pay "

Do you have any evidence that this is true?; 2/24/25, 10:19 AM
Jaq said...: Basically a government pension is the equivalent of a very large lottery win. No private companies hand them out anymore. They are ruinously expensive to support.; 2/24/25, 10:22 AM
hombre said...: Sprinkled amongst the graft are a few life-saving programs. I hope Trump will move to identify those and resurrect them soon.; 2/24/25, 10:41 AM
Sydney said...: I remember reading, way before the election, that one of the ways USAID was used was to fund the as needed riots. They didn't directly give the agitators money with instructions to riot, but when the Democrats needed some street unrest, they dialed up the amounts of the donations and the activists, suddenly with more money, got active. I forget where I read this, but I remember it being a reputable source of information. So, I am not sorry to see USAID targeted for downsizing.; 2/24/25, 10:46 AM
Curious George said...: "The pension is just a 401k by another name. "

Nope. Pension is a defined benefit program. You get x at y. Therefore very risky ffor companies which is why few do it anymore.

401k is a defined contribution plan. The employee puts in x, the company will put in y. Thens it up to the investment.; 2/24/25, 11:22 AM
Mason G said...: "Not at all the same. A 401k can go down in a down market. A government pension never lowers but does go up every year on a cost-of-living basis."

As well, a pension is typically paid for by the employer, a 401k is funded by the employee.

There are variations on both, depending on how the employer arranges things. I retired from my job with both a pension and a 401k. At the time I was hired, the company offered pensions for those who worked over seven years, 401k's were not available. A few years after I started, the company began offering 401k's and discontinued the pensions, with existing workers pensions being grandfathered in. The company offers a percentage match (it changes every year) to workers who participate in the 401k program.

My 401k account balance is dependent on my contributions and as noted by tommyesq, how the investments perform- it's possible lose money. The pension is a fixed amount that's not at risk of declining and in my case, it's fixed as there is no COLA adjustment.; 2/24/25, 11:22 AM
rehajm said...: Yah, taxpayers are on the hook for any shortfall in returns in a defined benefit scheme. Key difference…; 2/24/25, 11:23 AM
hawkeyedjb said...: "The bargain that the government entered into with it's employees was to accept lower pay (particularly at the high end of the pay scale) in return for job security.

It might be true, as noted, for SOME at the high end of the pay scale. It's unlikely that the millions of office drones in government are forgoing lucrative careers in tech or manufacturing or Biglaw to work for Uncle Sam. They are mostly middle-class salarymen and women who would have ordinary careers at ordinary salaries no matter where they work. They haven't given up much of anything to work for government.; 2/24/25, 11:29 AM
rhhardin said...: If you have a pension, they may offer to buy you out with a lump sum, but it's optional. A sort of reverse life insurance.; 2/24/25, 11:36 AM
Rabel said...: Sing it, Willie!; 2/24/25, 12:15 PM
Iman said...: Q: How would you describe 2,000 USAID employees being fired?

A: a “good start”; 2/24/25, 12:19 PM
Jupiter said...: The truly astonishing thing is that they rounded up some idiots to stand around watching them leave and thank them.; 2/24/25, 12:22 PM
Jupiter said...: "I assume the overwhelming majority do actually put normal, decent levels of effort into their job,". Well, maybe. But what if that "job" involves stealing people's property, and castrating their children? Just exactly how virtuous is it to put effort into lying and cheating and ruining lives?; 2/24/25, 12:28 PM
loudogblog said...: USAID vastly exceeded what everyone thought it was doing. It was supposed to provide humanitarian aid for people who were living in extreme poverty. It wasn't supposed to give money to news outlets and political groups. USAID turned out to also be a giant slush fund where progressives could get funding for their political activities.

Between covering up Biden's cognative problems to all this politically based government spending, the Democrats have proven themselves to be quite corrupt and arrogant.; 2/24/25, 12:48 PM
Gospace said...: Jamie said...
What about all the military and law enforcement bureaucrats who WERE fired refusing mRNA jabs? What about the bureaucrats who were forced to undergo humiliating weekly testing when they refused the vaccines?

Wasn't just bureaucrats who were forced to undergo humiliating weekly testing. Included boiler operators and other workers who toil to keep infrastructure working. Many, like me, who had to come in on our off time to be tested because we worked evening or night shifts- and were UNLAWFULLY denied overtime for performing a required job task- getting tested for a disease we didn't have because we didn't take a "vaccine" that didn't work. A "vaccine" that has ultimately proved to be somewhere between dangerous and deadly.

The unions went along with our mistreatment. And in my age group- 65+. more then 95% fell for the lies that the vaccines were both safe and effective- and tested for safety and efficiency! And many were frightened that OMG they were going to die- they were in the high risk group of being >65!

No one ever likes the person who was right when everyone else was wrong- they never forgive us for that.; 2/24/25, 1:31 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: “It's just always been part of the whole pay package. The bargain that the government entered into with its employees was to accept lower pay (particularly at the high end of the pay scale) in return for job security.”

Maybe 100 or so years ago. But now? Not so much. Sure, some of the lawyers and computer programmers could make more in the private sector. I know that I was hired away from Census by a contractor who had the GS pay rates in front of him, as a software engineer. But probably not in the masses of clerical workers, and even more in the DEI warriors, who are, esp in this environment, almost unhireable.

I remember laughing the other day at a, I believe, Linked In profile, where one of these DEI drones was trying to find a new job. I think that they had two degrees, the first one pretty soft liberal arts, and the second in something like indigenous basket weaving. And their experience appeared to be in mostly Woke/DEI activities. They went to college expecting a cushy job for their degree, but never took into account that their degrees never qualified them for anything useful. Then, most of them took out student loans to finance these worthless degrees, and got repayment of those loans deferred, or waived, because they were working for the government (or high sounding NGO).; 2/24/25, 1:36 PM
Gospace said...: hombre said...
Sprinkled amongst the graft are a few life-saving programs. I hope Trump will move to identify those and resurrect them soon.

Wishful thinking at it's best. Even if those programs do exist- how much funding in that program was diverted into other areas?; 2/24/25, 1:36 PM
Jaq said...: Remember when we tried to overturn the election in the country of Georgia because they passed a law requiring disclosure of who was getting involved in their politics? We accused them of passing "Russian style laws" but the US has the same kinds of laws, FARA, for example. Well, I think that I understand why now.; 2/24/25, 2:13 PM
effinayright said...: "I assume the overwhelming majority do actually put normal, decent levels of effort into their job,".
***************
That statement flies in the face of that "overwhelming majority" who opted to "work from home" for the past five years.

Let's see how many of those selfless folk can provide Trump/Musk with the bullet points describing what they accomplished during the past week.; 2/24/25, 3:11 PM
Tom T. said...: The federal government retirement plan is a defined contribution setup (i.e., like a 401k) called the TSP. The old defined-benefit pension plan, CSRS, was phased out decades ago. Less than 50,000 of the more than 2 million federal workers are still in CSRS.; 2/24/25, 3:42 PM
Mason G said...: According to Grok, federal workers have both a defined benefit pension and a voluntary "401(k) like" contribution plan:

Federal employees in the U.S. have access to a pretty solid retirement system, primarily through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which covers most folks hired after 1983. FERS is like a three-legged stool for retirement:

- Basic Benefit Plan: This is a defined benefit pension. You get a steady paycheck after you retire based on your years of service and your "high-3" salary (average of your highest three consecutive years of pay).

- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Think of this as the federal version of a 401(k). You can contribute part of your salary (pre-tax or Roth options), and the government chips in too. There’s an automatic 1% contribution from your agency, even if you don’t put in a dime, plus matching up to 5% if you contribute at least that much.

- Social Security: Federal employees under FERS pay into Social Security like everyone else, so you get those benefits too.

You’re eligible for full retirement with no penalty once you hit your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA)—between 55 and 57, depending on your birth year—plus at least 30 years of service. Or you can retire at 60 with 20 years, or 62 with just 5. There’s also an early retirement option if you’re downsized or let go, but it comes with a reduced pension. If you’re a FERS retiree, you get an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on your pension once you’re 62, tied to inflation.; 2/24/25, 4:45 PM
Gospace said...: This is the website for the actual federal employee retiree plan. It's not just the TSP.
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/; 2/24/25, 4:45 PM