SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Thousands of workers globally are now without jobs after President Donald Trump decided to slash all but a few USAID positions. A federal judge has blocked the Trump Administration from placing over 2,000 of those workers on paid leave. Still, that leaves the majority without jobs, impacting people both on a global scale, and here in western Mass.

We spoke with Allison Basson, who lost her job this week after the government carried through on its proposal for USAID cuts, and she told us that this is going to be detrimental to the global development industry.

“But what’s tricky about that is historically, if I wanted to resign and find a new job, okay, I’ll work for another development company, but we are all in the same boat, so it’s kind of like an entire industry that has to reframe their experience because there are no jobs in international development because we are hemorrhaging people because we haven’t been paid, and the pause, so it’s very kind of dire.”

Basson, who was a leading USAID development contractor just last week, told Western Mass News that she was surprised her career could be uprooted in such a short time.

“Yes, very shocked. If I think about my life even three or four weeks ago, I would not have expected to be where I am today. I think everyone in the industry this would be somewhat of a disruptive year and that we would have to navigate certain challenges, but I don’t think we anticipated how swiftly all of this would be happening.”

Allison also explained that even though she and her family are now experiencing the spillover, she is just as concerned for her projects worldwide.

“We have dozens and dozens of projects overseas that are just on pause right now,” she told us. “Just thinking about the impact on them, we were doing such great work, so that’s more on a global scale, the spillover effects overseas.”

Additionally, she added that she and her coworkers have not been paid by the U.S. government since December, a month before the presidential inauguration.

Those now unemployed will most likely have to switch to another industry so they can keep up with their bills.

““I think the theme we are hearing is: reform, yes, but please don’t destroy,” she emphasized. “Please just don’t destroy an agency that’s been around since John F. Kennedy because it’s having far-reaching ramifications.”

For now, Allison and her company are stuck in limbo, with the opportunity to advocate for others who are going through the same scenario.

“I would just encourage people, I would just want them to know that foreign assistance does actively affect them and it does help our country be more safe, secure and prosperous, and I know its not a direct one for one impact, but its such an important tool in our foreign policy and I have just seen it at work.”

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