Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is actively seeking to hire additional lawyers to investigate employee misconduct. This includes examining potential violations related to unauthorized communications with the media, according to a recent job posting.
The recruitment announcement, published by a sourcing firm, outlines the responsibilities of the new hires, who will be tasked with probing a range of employee misconduct issues and ensuring adherence to federal regulations. The American Foreign Service Association, which represents USAID employees, has confirmed the authenticity of the job listing.
This move appears to be part of a broader effort initiated by the Trump administration to clamp down on former employees who speak with the media. Tensions have escalated between the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and numerous federal workers facing job losses. The newly hired lawyers will be expected to manage over 200 employee grievances and will report directly to the Deputy General Counsel at USAID.
Last week, several USAID employees received notices indicating they were under “administrative inquiry” for engaging with the press without prior approval. The communications from the agency’s human resources department implied that disciplinary actions, including possible termination, could follow.
Critics of the DOGE initiative view this job posting as an alarming indication that the agency is attempting to intimidate employees from expressing dissent regarding layoffs. Randy Chester, vice president of the American Foreign Service Association, questioned the underlying motives of the agency and its future goals.
Plans for further workforce reductions at USAID have already been established for later this year, with more than a thousand employees expected to be let go as part of a downsizing led by DOGE. The timeline for dismissals has been outlined in internal communications, with employees facing termination by early September.
Chester expressed further concern over the agency’s tactics, claiming that the actions demonstrate a level of desperation within the administration. Historically, USAID has been a key player in international aid distribution but is now facing drastic reductions in personnel as DOGE continues its initiative.
In February, a communication from President Trump declared that USAID was effectively being dismantled. Following that announcement, employees were given limited time to gather their belongings, leading to widespread fear regarding job security. However, many employees found their termination dates unexpectedly postponed as leadership deliberated over the firings.
Recently, employees who had spoken publicly about their layoff situations have received additional emails suggesting they may have breached agency conduct rules by participating in interviews. Such communications mandated that employees respond by mid-May, asserting that failure to do so could result in disciplinary action.
According to agency guidelines, federal employees are prohibited from interacting with the media without official permission. However, many affected employees have not been required to sign agreements limiting their communication with reporters.
Legal experts, including attorney Abbe Lowell, argue that federal workers retain their constitutional rights despite their public service roles. Chester indicated that many employees currently facing termination are either resigned to their fate or are willing to take the risks associated with speaking out.
This ongoing situation highlights significant tensions within the agency and raises questions about the treatment of federal workers during these drastic changes.
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