Former employees of USAID leave the headquarters building in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. The layoffs come after DOGE's analysis of the organization and recommendation for mass layoffs. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)
Workers and supporters were seen getting emotional as the former employees left the building, images captured by Fox News Digital showed.
The slew of layoffs came after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, conducted a sweep of the agency and recommended cuts after identifying "wasteful" spending on programs and initiatives around the world.
Following the DOGE probe, the Trump administration placed nearly 1,600 USAID employees on administrative leave globally on Sunday.
Former employees of USAID leave the headquarters building in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)
"Staff will be given approximately 15 minutes to complete this retrieval, and must be finished removing items within their time slot only," USAID stated in their instructions.
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"Staff with a significant amount of personal belongings to retrieve must be cognizant of time; however, flexibility may be granted in select circumstances with the approval of the Office of Security," the agency said.
USAID did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Aubrie Spady is a Writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fired-me-illegally-emotional-ex-usaid-employees-leave-building-belongings-after-mass-layoffs