The U.S. Agency for International Development faces mounting criticism as payment delays leave foreign service officers without essential allowances during massive organizational restructuring. In a Friday court filing, Trump-appointed official Peter Marocco acknowledged system changes created gaps in routine payments to staff deployed in high-risk regions.
Marocco's affidavit reveals over 20 employees remain on temporary leave without full financial support while stationed in conflict zones. We're working diligently to address delays impacting certain allowance payments,he stated, avoiding specifics about payment system modifications tied to Trump-era USAID budget cuts.
We fled Congo with only what fit on our laps - no winter clothes or housing when we reached DC,testified evacuated officer Olivia Doe
Recent lawsuits highlight three critical impacts of the crisis:
- Disrupted evacuation allowances for personnel escaping conflict zones
- Delayed salary supplements for hazardous duty posts
- Lost access to emergency funding through USAID's Phoenix system
The American Federation of Government Employees argues systemic changes aim to weaken USAID's operational capacity. Union representatives note multiple evacuated staff now face bureaucratic hurdles when claiming war zone hazard pay and relocation reimbursements.
Marocco countered claims of administrative neglect, stating evacuated staff received care packages and necessitiesupon U.S. arrival. However, internal memos show the new Government Efficiency Department rejected 43% of evacuation allowance requests in February 2025 alone.
Analysts suggest these disruptions align with Trump administration efforts to reduce USAID's global footprint by 62% before 2026. The agency's budget currently stands at $18.7B - down 41% from 2020 levels. Foreign service officers warn residual payment system failures now endanger humanitarian operations in 14 countries.