Survey reveals lasting financial and mental strain on former USAID staff and families

Jaime Oberlander, who served as a USAID foreign service officer in Ethiopia before the agency was merged into the State Department, surveyed about 3,800 former USAID and partner-organization staff. The findings show that just 40% have found full-time positions, with 66% of those earning less than before the layoffs. Dual job loss affected 48% of former foreign service officers, and many families faced housing instability and health declines, including weight loss, depression, and insomnia.

Stress-related ailments such as headaches and panic attacks were. The data also highlight demographic gaps: younger employees secured jobs more readily, while Black former aid workers lagged behind. Oberlander warns that the reduced aid capacity could jeopardize global health outcomes, referencing a 2025 study linking Trump-era cuts to millions of potential deaths.