USAID overseas missions to shut down Friday: report

All overseas missions for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have been ordered to shut down and nearly all staff at the agency will be placed on leave Friday night. This comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio was made acting administrator of the agency.

Multiple sources confirmed to CBS News the shutdown on overseas missions, and all staff on those missions will be recalled on Friday. Newly-appointed deputy administrator for USAID, Pete Marocco, told State Department leadership on Tuesday that they need to get every USAID employee out of the countries they are currently in by Friday, two sources familiar with the matter said. Marocco told the State Department that if they could not achieve this, staff would be evacuated by the military. Of USAID’s more than 10,000 employees, around two-thirds of them serve overseas.

A statement on USAID’s website stated that at 11:59 pm on Friday, February 7, "all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs." Those considered essential to core functions who are expected to continue working will be notified on Thursday.

The statement continued, "For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential."

"The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming. Thank you for your service."

Multiple USAID staffers based in the agency’s Washington, DC headquarters told CBS News that they had received a separate email on Tuesday night notifying them that they had been placed on administrative leave. A copy of the memo obtained by the outlet stated that employees must remain "available" by email and phone during regular business hours but are barred from entering USAID buildings.