USAID employees dedicated years of service to the United States, working around the world to advance U.S. interests and implement American foreign assistance programs.

The dismantling of USAID caused significant disruption for employees and their families. Members of the workforce experienced job losses, interrupted careers, financial hardship, loss of benefits and professional opportunities, and other consequences that varied according to their employment status and circumstances.

The OUC USAID Workforce Repair and Redress Initiative seeks to ensure that these impacts remain understood by policymakers and that realistic options for addressing them are identified and considered.

Why this initiative

Our USAID Community (OUC) has consistently advocated for the rights and interests of the USAID workforce in seeking accountability and relief through the legal system.

Congress and future Administrations will have opportunities to address some of the consequences experienced by the USAID workforce. Identifying those opportunities—and developing practical proposals that policymakers can evaluate—requires sustained attention and professional expertise.

That is why OUC intends to support a dedicated professional advocate with congressional experience focused on the workforce-related consequences of the dismantling of USAID.

The advocate will educate Members of Congress and congressional staff about the experiences of the USAID workforce, maintain relationships with congressional offices, identify potential legislative and administrative approaches to addressing documented harms, and develop practical proposals for policymakers to consider.

The initiative will be nonpartisan and focused on workforce issues, accountability, and potential avenues for redress.

Inclusive. Realistic. Persistent.

The USAID community includes employees and former employees who served under different hiring authorities and employment arrangements and experienced different consequences. (CS, ISCs, FSNs, FSLs, FSOs, PSCs, and others).

Any meaningful effort must recognize those differences while also focusing on remedies that are legally supportable, practically achievable, and capable of being considered by future Congresses and Administrations.

Sustained professional engagement can help ensure that policymakers have accurate information about the workforce, understand the consequences experienced by employees, and have practical options to consider.

Help support the initiative

OUC intends to raise funds within the USAID community to support this professional advocacy effort.

The goal is straightforward: to ensure that the experiences and interests of the USAID workforce remain visible to policymakers, and that practical avenues for accountability and redress are identified, communicated, and pursued through the legislative process.

Your contribution will help provide sustained professional advocacy focused on the rights, interests, and concerns of the USAID workforce.

To help us understand your redress priorities, please take this survey.

https://forms.gle/RFCeWCrbQZih5J9G6