The information technology of the American agency now obstinate for international development is due to a skeleton team capable of providing only limited support, Fedscoop learned.
The group is what remains of a formerly wide team while the Trump administration massively reduces American foreign aid and questions emerge on the future of USAID assets and the security of government data.
According to someone from the USAID, only three employees in information technology operations, a project manager and a contract manager are currently working on the agency’s IT staff. It is a tiny fraction of around a hundred staff members devoted to it before the Trump administration starts in January.
“We are committed to implementing the objectives of President Trump Trump and Secretary Rubio by being as innovative, agile and concentrated as possible,” said a spokesperson for the State Department in Fedscoop in response to a request for comments. USAID calls for the media listed on the State Department website have not been made.
Jason Gray, the information director who was briefly acting in the agency, now helps the front office with his plans for the USAID, said the agency’s source. It also helps manage account activation, said another USAID source.
The employees of the information insurance team, which managed compliance management, focused on cybersecurity and privacy, are all on administrative leave, said a source. Entrepreneurs have also been deleted.
The future of the USAID is not yet clear. A federal judge recently noted that the closing of the USAID could be unconstitutionalAlthough the Trump administration is likely to appeal the decision. According to a Memo obtained by ReutersOfficials are now interested in transforming USAID into the American agency for international humanitarian aid, which would be part of the State Department and only focus on food security, global health and the response to disasters.
However, efforts to move technical systems seem to continue. To facilitate the transfer of certain assets of USAID to the State Department, the Management created a small team for supporting coordination with members of the two agencies in February. Jeremy LewinA member of the Ministry of Effectiveness of the Government and lawyer trained at Harvard, has since dissolved the group, have confirmed several sources and, according to an email at the end of March, consulted by Fedscoop.
E-mail said that the team triggers would not result in any staff action or impact existing authorizations and bilateral communications between the two agencies. The email mentioned that the Reformed USAID would have a longer-term structure for communications between the two agencies.
Meanwhile, USAID employees abroad still have access to their aircraft, some of which transport valuable government data. These employees are on administrative leave and have not received a reduction or instructions correspondence on how to manage their agitated equipment by the government, sources said in Fedscoop.
According to an USAID employee, it seemed that discussions on USAID employees have been made abroad bring their government devices to American embassies, where state employees could treat the equipment. The status of this plan is not clear.
USAID employees based in the United States who have received strength letters were invited to return their devices when they go to the office to get their personal effects.
The USAID website is always offline and the URL only displays an item on administrative leave.