The Trump administration has placed most USAID employees on administrative leave as of midnight on Sunday, with approximately 2,000 staff members being laid off as part of a broader reduction effort.

An internal email from the Office of the Administrator, obtained by CBS News, confirmed the decision, stating that only designated personnel responsible for critical functions or leadership roles would be exempt. However, the number of exempt employees remains unclear.

The workforce reduction follows previous legal challenges against the administration’s efforts to significantly cut USAID’s staff. A federal judge had temporarily halted the plan but ruled on Friday that the pause would not be permanent, allowing the administration to proceed with its restructuring.

In a speech at a conservative convention outside Washington, D.C., over the weekend, President Trump reiterated his stance against USAID, referring to it as a “left-wing scam” and stating that the agency’s name had been removed from its former headquarters. The space will now be occupied by agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which has reportedly signed a license agreement to take over the office building.

The downsizing of USAID, supported by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk, is part of a broader effort to cut federal spending. Musk has been vocal about reducing government bureaucracy, recently calling for millions of civil servants to justify their roles.

With USAID operating in over 60 countries, the restructuring has already disrupted numerous global aid programs. Critics argue that the move signals a retreat from America’s longstanding humanitarian commitments. Former USAID chief Gayle Smith warned that the decision could undermine the country’s global standing and reliability as an international partner.

USAID previously employed around 10,000 people, with two-thirds stationed overseas. The administration has offered to fund voluntary return travel for affected employees currently based abroad.