The future of the U.S. international aid agency remains uncertain following the judicial decision.

On February 8, 2025, a federal judge in the United States blocked a plan that would have impacted thousands of employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This plan, promoted by the Trump administration, aimed to place a large portion of the agency’s staff on administrative leave, both at its headquarters and in its international missions. Despite the controversial measure, the judge ruled that the suspension must be halted immediately, thus protecting the workers.

The agency, which manages billions of dollars for international cooperation, had announced that the new policy would take effect starting February 7, 2025. Under this plan, all directly hired personnel, both in the U.S. and abroad, would be placed on leave, with exceptions for those performing essential functions.

Throughout the week, there had been speculation about the implications of this decision, which is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce government spending. According to official sources, this measure would also require employees stationed overseas to return to the U.S. within 30 days.