WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant move, the Trump administration is affecting a large number of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees. Thousands of workers have either been laid off or placed on leave, and they are given a limited opportunity on Thursday and Friday to collect their belongings from their workspaces.

This past Monday, USAID announced it had placed 4,080 employees, who serve in various roles worldwide, on administrative leave. Additionally, a “reduction in force” will impact approximately 1,600 more staff members, according to a spokesperson from the State Department responding via email.

USAID has become a major target in President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to reduce the size of the federal government, a project supported by adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. This campaign has led to drastic staffing cuts that leave only a small portion of USAID’s workforce still active.

Trump and Musk have acted swiftly to scale back the operations of the foreign aid agency, criticizing its programs as misaligned with the president’s objectives and alleging, without substantiation, that the agency’s efforts are wasteful. Their strategy is contentious as it moves ahead without congressional oversight, despite Congress being responsible for authorizing and funding the agency’s operations.

A recent report from the Congressional Research Service indicated that congressional approval is necessary for actions such as abolishing or consolidating USAID. However, Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate have not challenged the administration’s strategy. Given the situation, there’s minimal financial support left for the agency, as the current administration claims it will cut more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts, impacting around $60 billion in U.S. global assistance.

The specific number of USAID employees affected who are based at the agency’s Washington headquarters remains unclear, as a notice on the agency’s website mentioned that personnel at other locations would have the opportunity to retrieve their personal items at a later time.

The notification provided details on the procedures for employees to follow when accessing their former workspaces, including security screenings. Those being terminated are required to return all USAID property. Employees on administrative leave were instructed to retain their agency-issued belongings, such as diplomatic passports, “until their separation from the agency” is finalized.

Many USAID staff viewed the transfer conditions for collecting their belongings as disrespectful. The instructions explicitly warned against bringing prohibited items, including firearms, “spear guns,” and “hand grenades.” Each affected employee is allowed just 15 minutes to gather their possessions.

The administration’s push to downsize the federal workforce has faced numerous lawsuits, yet attempts to temporarily halt USAID’s shutdown have not succeeded. Nevertheless, a federal judge issued a deadline for the Trump administration to disperse billions in U.S. foreign aid, as it seemed unresponsive to a nearly two-week-old ruling aimed at lifting the funding freeze. However, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended that order, with Chief Justice John Roberts noting it would remain on hold pending further judicial review.

This legal challenge stems from a suit filed by nonprofit organizations related to the interruption of foreign assistance through USAID and the State Department. Trump had initiated a freeze on foreign aid via executive order on his first day in office, alleging that many programs were wasteful and inconsistent with his foreign policy aims.

Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly described the assault on USAID employees as “unprecedented and unwarranted.” He emphasized that these workers represent a vital component of what he termed the “world’s premier development and foreign assistance agency,” noting that they impact millions of lives positively every year.