USAID Africa bureau shrinks to 12 as US axes 10,000+ jobs globally

The U.S. government plans to drastically reduce the workforce of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), slashing its global staff from over 10,000 to just 294, according to U.S. media.

The decision, championed by President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk, will limit USAID’s Africa bureau to only 12 staff members, according to an internal chart shared online, raising fears about the future of vital health, humanitarian, and development programmes in Nigeria and across the continent.

USAID, which has operated for over 60 years, is critical to Nigeria’s fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child mortality, and food insecurity.

In 2023 alone, Nigeria received $1.03 billion of the agency’s $40 billion global budget, supporting life-saving treatments and economic development projects. USAID-funded initiatives have improved access to clean water, strengthened health systems, and provided emergency food aid to vulnerable populations.

In Nigeria, the agency has recently faced scrutiny over alleged involvement in questionable political matters, though these claims remain unproven.

The massive layoff comes amid Trump’s aggressive push to overhaul U.S. foreign aid, labelling USAID’s spending as wasteful and politically motivated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who now oversees the agency, insisted that “crucial health and humanitarian aid will continue,” but the cuts suggest otherwise.

What appears to be an internal document reveal that only a handful of personnel will remain in key regions, with just eight staff covering all of Asia and Latin America each. Only 21 people will serve the Middle East.

The cuts were also confirmed by The New York Times, Reuters and the Associated Press.

“A lot of people will not survive,” warned J. Brian Atwood, former USAID administrator, highlighting the devastating impact of halting life-saving programmes, according to the Independent.

The agency’s work in Nigeria includes HIV treatment for over one million people, malaria prevention, and nutritional support for malnourished children. These programs are now at risk.

Implementing partners in Nigeria are already facing financial strain as stop-work orders trickle down, jeopardizing jobs and critical services. Public health expert Ejike Orji told Voice of America, “This move will destabilize our health sector, leaving gaps that Nigeria’s budget cannot fill.”

Last week, the Nigerian government has launched a multi-ministerial committee to develop a transition plan for USAID-funded health programmes. The committee, comprising officials from the ministries of finance, health, and environment, aims to secure new funding to prevent disruptions in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria treatments.

The government has approved only N4.1 billion ($3.2 million) for 150,000 HIV treatment packs for four months – less than 2% of what USAID spent annually.

Nigeria, with 1.8 million people living with HIV and the world’s highest malaria death toll, allocates just 4% of its budget to health—well below the 15% Abuja Declaration target.