Washington DC—The Federal workers of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were notified today they would be given a short period to clear out their desks over a two day period. The email detailed the process over 2 days for USAID bureaus to split the workday into 15 minute increments for each worker to retrieve their belongings.
Many Federal workers have been located at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, the headquarters of USAID, for decades and would have naturally accumulated many belongings and mementos of their employment over that period. The Federal employees will not be provided any packing materials such as tape or boxes.
This is part of a DOGE plan to dissemble government agencies and reduce the Federal workforce to a fraction of what it was. This is the newest DOGE attempt to humiliate Federal workers who have been in public service for much of their careers.
But the public can show up and support the Federal employees by bringing boxes and packing tape, food, snacks and coffee, to help them through this difficult moment. The public can also bring signs of support and thank the Federal workers being released.
By showing up for the Federal workers the public can show that many citizens firmly reject the irrational and inhumanity of the DOGE takeover. It is also a subtle was to resist DOGE by giving power to Federal workers who have served the needs of developing countries through war, famine, and disease, and oppressive regimes since 1961. Even the smallest act of resistance can be a revolutionary act.
The staff will have Thursday and Friday, in one-hour windows by bureau and in 15-minute increments per person. No boxes or packing materials will be provided. It This will be an extremely emotional two days for the workers so any support from the public would be significant.
An announcement published on behalf of the USAID Federal workers read,
”We would like to encourage anyone who is able to join us at the (Ronald Reagan International Trade Building) to “clap out” staff, with signs of support. If you’re able to bring extra packing materials and/or drinks and snacks please do. We want to show these people how you treat public servants who have given their lives to the important work we do.”
The mandatory clear out schedule for USAID Federal workers is Thursday, February 27, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm and Friday February 28, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. The public should show up early with supplies at:
Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
There is public parking in the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building garage, and the closest metros are Metro Center (red line) and Federal Triangle (orange/blue). If you are planning to park in the garage please make sure to have a government-issued ID (driver’s license).
The USAID offices were among the first taken over by DOGE thee weeks ago on February 3.
USAID was created by an act of congress in 1961 and signed by President Kennedy. Several court cases challenging the legality of the Trump-Mush takeover and shutdown of USAID remain open.
We covered the actions outside USAID on February 3 and February 4.
