Former USAID employees won’t get a long farewell—just 15 minutes, a security escort, and a warning that their belongings might end up in a government warehouse if they don’t act fast.
The agency, which is being gutted under the Trump administration’s efficiency drive led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, has laid out strict rules for ex-staffers retrieving personal items from its Washington, DC, headquarters.
A notice posted Tuesday detailed the no-nonsense plan: arrive at your assigned timeslot on Thursday or Friday, pass through security screening, grab your things—no government documents allowed—and get out. Those who fail to show up will have their stuff boxed up and sent to storage, with no guarantees of safety, reported the New York Post.
Security and law enforcement will be on-site to supervise the process. Employees must bring their own bags and boxes—USAID won’t be providing so much as a roll of tape.
The agency, long criticized for wasteful spending, is being dismantled as part of Trump’s efforts to streamline government operations. About 1,600 employees are being let go, with USAID’s core functions expected to be absorbed by the State Department.
Last week, emotional scenes played out as former staffers cleared out another USAID office, greeted by a crowd of supporters outside. But for those heading back this week, there won’t be much time for goodbyes—just 15 minutes to pack up and move on.