Trump Administration Cuts Thousands of USAID Positions Amid Musk's Government Efficiency Push
The Trump administration is eliminating 2,000 USAID jobs and placing others on leave, exacerbating tensions within federal agencies after Musk's controversial email demands.
The apparent backlash comes as House Republicans prepare to vote on a budget plan including cuts to Medicaid and food assistance—a proposal GOP members who narrowly won their seats in November have expressed major concerns about voting for.
GOP Lawmakers Face Growing Backlash to Trump-Musk Agenda
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Many federal workers are covered by civil service protections that prevent them from being fired without cause, and the actual text of the email sent from an OPM address did not include the ultimatum.
'What did you do last week?' email stokes confusion and anger among federal workers
NPR·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.The move escalates a monthlong administration assault on the agency that has closed its headquarters in Washington and shut down thousands of U.S. aid and development programs worldwide following an effort to freeze foreign assistance.
The Trump administration is firing 2,000 USAID workers and putting thousands of others on leave
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However, Hochul saw the dismissal as an attempt from the Trump administration to “interfere in the operations of our city.”
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The guidance marks notable public disagreement between Trump appointees who manage thousands of bureaucrats and Musk who - as the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - has been leading an outside effort to aggressively reduce government spending.
Musk email to government workers sparks confusion across US agencies
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Including Collins, only a handful of Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the criteria for the mass firings and their potential long-term repercussions.
Republican warns Donald Trump's, Elon Musk's firings are a "big problem"
Newsweek·25d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Elon Musk's management style has once again sparked intense debate, this time for asking federal employees to respond to an email with what they accomplished in the past week — or risk losing their jobs.
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Some union leaders were critical of the email to federal workers to provide details on what they did over the past week.
Elon Musk Clarifies Email to Federal Workers as Some Agencies Ask Staff Not to Respond
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Musk's missive hit the inboxes of federal workers who survived his Department of Government Efficiency's firing of thousands of workers in the past two weeks.
Federal agencies divided on how to respond to Elon Musk's latest threat to their employees
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While there is bipartisan agreement that the US government, which carries $36 trillion in debt, would benefit from reform, Musk’s approach has drawn widespread criticism.
Some US agencies tell federal workers to ignore Musk email
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Hochul also raged against the Trump administration for nixing the congestion pricing tax scheme that imposed a $9 fee to drive into Manhattan below 60th Street.
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Summary
The Trump administration has announced the termination of 2,000 USAID employees and placed others on leave as part of broader agency cuts. This decision follows a federal judge's approval of the administration’s plan to streamline operations, despite objections from affected workers. Concurrently, Elon Musk’s controversial email directed federal employees to list weekly accomplishments has created backlash and confusion across various agencies, leading officials to advise against complying. Many federal workers expressed anxiety about job security amidst ongoing restructuring efforts in government operations, indicating rising tensions in the administration’s approach to efficiency and management.
Perspectives
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