By Uche Onyeali, Agency Report
Staff of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, at the headquarters in Washington were yesterday asked to stay at home.
USAID is the leading global aid organisation, providing relief and billions of dollar project aids to Africa and other poor countries.
The workers reportedly received an email after midnight yesterday asking them not to come to the office and to work from home.
“At the direction of its leadership, USAID headquarters at Ronald Reagan building in Washington, D.C will be closed to personnel on Monday, February 3.
“Personnel normally assigned to work at USAID headquarters will work remotely tomorrow, with the exception of those with essential on-site and building maintenance functions individually contacted by senior leadership,” the mail read.
The development followed a hint on Sunday by Tesla and X Chief Executive, Elon Musk that US President, Donald Trump had agreed to shut down USAID.
Speaking during an X Spaces stream around midnight on Sunday, Musk said he checked in with Trump a few times who said: “Yes we are shutting it down”.
There had been reports that Trump is planning to issue another executive order that would dismantle USAID and move its operations to the State Department.
Meanwhile, two top security officials at the agency have reportedly been placed on administrative leave.
The move was because the officials refused to allow personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, run by Musk to access classified materials in restricted areas.
