Pregnant aid workers from USAID, the U.S. agency that provides development and humanitarian assistance abroad, who were fired by the federal agency DOGE, are asking the Trump administration for compassion. Expectant families complain that the measure contradicts the administration’s own calls to increase the birth rate. The layoffs were set between July 1 and Sept. 2, and workers say they have received little response to attempts to postpone their actual implementation.
The consequences are likely to be severe: many federal USAID employees, including those who work or have spouses employed abroad, will suddenly find themselves without parental leave, without health coverage and without the income they relied on during maternity leave.
According to a report in the Washington Post, one of the employees said, “I’m almost hoping to give birth prematurely, so at least I would still have insurance coverage after giving birth.” The woman lives abroad, and the birth of her child is due within days of her husband’s termination date. “Even if he is born prematurely, at least he would get the care he needs before my insurance is suspended.”
Many agency workers do not have homes in the United States, nor spouses with independent incomes, and rely on benefits related to their employment, including housing and health care. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured diplomats last February that the agency would consider support measures for employees in vulnerable situations, such as pregnancy. However, to date, this has not translated into concrete action.
Affected families speak of a long period of uncertainty, confusion and stress. In some women, the psychological pressure has been such that pregnancy has been put at risk or deep doubts have arisen about the very choice to become mothers.
