Ellen Knickmeyer

Demonstrators and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk as they disrupt the federal government, including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, which administers foreign aid approved by Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Judge says he will temporarily block President Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on paid leave

February 7, 2025 at 10:00 p.m.

A federal judge says he will temporarily block the Trump administration from placing 2,200 employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development on paid leave.

Current and former employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development and their supporters rally with members of Congress outside the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)

Trump administration plans to slash all but a fraction of USAID jobs worldwide, officials say

February 6, 2025 at 5:41 p.m.

The Trump administration has presented a plan to dramatically cut staffing worldwide for U.S. aid projects as part of its dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

FILE – In this photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, flags fly at half-staff at Camp Justice, Aug. 29, 2021, in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Newly unsealed documents reveal more details of prosecutors’ evidence in 9/11 attacks

February 6, 2025 at 5:24 p.m.

Newly unsealed documents give one of the most detailed views yet of the evidence gathered on the accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The flag of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, flies in front of the USAID office in Washington, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

USAID workers scramble for answers after President Donald Trump pulls almost all of them off the job worldwide

February 5, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.

U.S. aid workers around the world scrambled Wednesday to pack up households or take children out of school under a sudden Trump administration order that pulled almost all of them...

FILE – Solar panels system funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are seen in the Lebanese-Syrian border town of Majdal Anjar, eastern Bekaa valley, Lebanon, Nov. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File)

USAID direct hires put on leave worldwide, except those deemed essential

February 4, 2025 at 9:30 p.m.

The Trump administration is placing U.S. Agency for International Development direct-hire staffers around the world on leave, except those deemed essential.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is pictured Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

What is USAID? Explaining the US foreign aid agency and why President Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to end it

February 3, 2025 at 1:12 p.m.

Over the last two weeks, President Donald Trump’s administration has made significant changes to the U.S. agency charged with delivering humanitarian assistance overseas that has left aid organizations agonizing over...

FILE – USAID humanitarian aid destined for Venezuela is displayed for the media at a warehouse next to the Tienditas International Bridge on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)

Elon Musk says President Donald Trump has ‘agreed’ USAID should be shut down

February 3, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is on the cusp of being shuttered, according the Trump administration’s billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk — who has been wrestling for...

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance in the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

US aid agency is in upheaval during foreign assistance freeze and staff departures

January 31, 2025 at 9:14 a.m.

Trump administration changes have upended the U.S. agency charged with providing humanitarian aid to countries overseas, with dozens of senior officials put on leave, thousands of contractors laid off, and...

US places dozens of senior aid officials on leave, citing possible resistance to Trump orders

January 27, 2025 at 9:16 p.m.

At least 56 senior officials in the top U.S. aid and development agency were placed on leave Monday amid an investigation into an alleged effort to thwart President Donald Trump’s...

State Department freezes new funding for nearly all US aid programs worldwide

January 24, 2025 at 4:18 p.m.

The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

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