The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will place nearly all direct-hire personnel on administrative leave beginning Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EST). This decision, communicated in an email to staff, allows exceptions for mission-critical functions and leadership roles. The agency also plans to assist international staff with return travel to the U.S. within 30 days while terminating non-essential contracts. This announcement follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio's funding authorization freeze and recent office closures. Prominent figures, including Elon Musk, have criticized the agency's direction, further complicating its future amid concerns for the approximately 0.47% of the federal budget that USAID manages, impacting humanitarian work in 65 countries. Veteran employees voice uncertainty regarding the agency's stability and direction, signaling potential increases in global security challenges due to downsized operations.