Fatma Tanis

Today, workers were seen taking down the USAID flag and signage from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.

Today, workers were seen taking down the USAID flag and signage from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.

Well, it was a short note. It was not signed by any official, and it said that there would be some exceptions, that essential personnel expected to continue working would be notified by Thursday afternoon. Now, around 10,000 people work for USAID. Most of them are serving overseas, and they've been given 30 days to pack up and come back home.

Well, it was a short note. It was not signed by any official, and it said that there would be some exceptions, that essential personnel expected to continue working would be notified by Thursday afternoon. Now, around 10,000 people work for USAID. Most of them are serving overseas, and they've been given 30 days to pack up and come back home.

Well, it was a short note. It was not signed by any official, and it said that there would be some exceptions, that essential personnel expected to continue working would be notified by Thursday afternoon. Now, around 10,000 people work for USAID. Most of them are serving overseas, and they've been given 30 days to pack up and come back home.

The note ended with the words, thank you for your service.

The note ended with the words, thank you for your service.

The note ended with the words, thank you for your service.

Well, they're shocked and gutted. I spoke to several officials at the agency who didn't want to be named because they're not authorized to speak publicly. And they said that this is effectively a shutdown of the agency, and they call the process inhumane. Now, for staff who are overseas, there are other concerns. People have kids in school, spouses who have jobs, they have pets.

Well, they're shocked and gutted. I spoke to several officials at the agency who didn't want to be named because they're not authorized to speak publicly. And they said that this is effectively a shutdown of the agency, and they call the process inhumane. Now, for staff who are overseas, there are other concerns. People have kids in school, spouses who have jobs, they have pets.

Well, they're shocked and gutted. I spoke to several officials at the agency who didn't want to be named because they're not authorized to speak publicly. And they said that this is effectively a shutdown of the agency, and they call the process inhumane. Now, for staff who are overseas, there are other concerns. People have kids in school, spouses who have jobs, they have pets.

It's going to be hard to uproot their lives in 30 days, and many are expecting the next step to be mass layoffs. I also heard concerns about what this means for the U.S. I spoke with Susan Reichli, a retired USAID official, and here's how she put it.

It's going to be hard to uproot their lives in 30 days, and many are expecting the next step to be mass layoffs. I also heard concerns about what this means for the U.S. I spoke with Susan Reichli, a retired USAID official, and here's how she put it.

It's going to be hard to uproot their lives in 30 days, and many are expecting the next step to be mass layoffs. I also heard concerns about what this means for the U.S. I spoke with Susan Reichli, a retired USAID official, and here's how she put it.

Well, President Trump has been saying that USAID is too independent, that it is full of, quote, radical left lunatics, and that its programs are not in line with his America First policy. Now, people who work in the agency, they say their allegiance is to the Constitution and not to any political party. Many of them served under multiple administrations.

Well, President Trump has been saying that USAID is too independent, that it is full of, quote, radical left lunatics, and that its programs are not in line with his America First policy. Now, people who work in the agency, they say their allegiance is to the Constitution and not to any political party. Many of them served under multiple administrations.

Well, President Trump has been saying that USAID is too independent, that it is full of, quote, radical left lunatics, and that its programs are not in line with his America First policy. Now, people who work in the agency, they say their allegiance is to the Constitution and not to any political party. Many of them served under multiple administrations.

And they say that everything they do down to the countries and the issues that they work on is approved by Congress. Now, since Congress chartered USAID, legal experts say the administration doesn't have the authority to abolish it on its own. But there are still a lot of questions about how this is going to play out.

And they say that everything they do down to the countries and the issues that they work on is approved by Congress. Now, since Congress chartered USAID, legal experts say the administration doesn't have the authority to abolish it on its own. But there are still a lot of questions about how this is going to play out.

And they say that everything they do down to the countries and the issues that they work on is approved by Congress. Now, since Congress chartered USAID, legal experts say the administration doesn't have the authority to abolish it on its own. But there are still a lot of questions about how this is going to play out.