The Trump administration will place most USAID employees back on administrative leave starting at midnight on Sunday.

Additionally, around 2,000 staff members will be laid off as part of a "reduction in force" initiative, according to an internal email from the Office of the Administrator obtained by CBS News, the BBC’s American news partner.

This move follows weeks of legal battles after President Donald Trump initially sought to cut thousands of jobs at USAID. While a federal judge temporarily blocked the plan, the ruling was not permanent.

On Friday, Judge Carl Nichols ruled that the administration could proceed with the staff reductions, rejecting employees’ attempts to halt the dismissals. The notice to employees specified that only "designated personnel" in critical roles or leadership positions would be exempt, though it remains unclear how many will be retained.

The latest announcement is part of Trump’s broader effort to downsize the federal workforce and reduce spending, a campaign spearheaded by billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Over the weekend, Musk instructed millions of government employees to document their weekly accomplishments.

Trump and Musk have been vocal critics of USAID, arguing that the agency’s foreign aid spending does not align with the "America First" agenda. Speaking at a conservative convention outside Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Trump reiterated his stance: "We've effectively ended the left-wing scam known as USAID. Its name has been removed from the building, and that space will now be used by Customs and Border Patrol agents."

Musk has gone even further, labeling USAID a "criminal organization" and claiming Trump has agreed to "shut it down," though he provided no evidence to support this assertion.

USAID, which employs approximately 10,000 people—two-thirds of whom work abroad—has already seen major disruptions since Trump announced his intent to cut funding in January. Hundreds of global aid programs have been put on hold, significantly impacting international humanitarian efforts.

The United States is the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid, with operations in over 60 countries. Much of its work is carried out through contractors.

Former USAID chief Gayle Smith warned of the consequences of these cutbacks, telling the BBC: "By pulling out, the US is sending a dangerous message. It suggests we don't care whether people live or die and that we are no longer a reliable global partner."