It was an emotional scene outside the headquarters of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington, DC on Thursday.
Workers were spotted crying as they were briefly allowed back into the building to gather belongings one last time.
Employees of USAID have been locked out of the headquarters for weeks after the Trump administration through Elon Musk’s DOGE dramatically shut down the congressionally authorized agency and locked out employees.
A note circled by USAID on Tuesday told staffers they would have the opportunity ‘this Thursday and Friday ONLY’ to collect their belongings from the office.
Employees had to be escorted to their workspaces to collect their personal belongings.
The staffers were only given just 15 minute time slots to completely pack up their desks and finish removing everything they planned to take with them.
Laid-off USAID employees were spotted carrying out boxes and bags of personal belongings after being given just 15 minutes to retrieve their personal belongings at USAID headquarters on Thursday
As employees showed up at the building, they were greeted by a group of demonstrators who stood outside with signs of supports.
Some of the signs thanked the agency workers for their service and called them heroes while others praised USAID for its work around the globe.
There was also a set up so the staffers could get coffee and donuts when they showed up to frantically pack up their items amid the uncertainty that has swept Washington as the administration looks to make sweeping cuts in the federal workforce.
USAID has been one of the top targets of the DOGE efforts to slash spending as Trump and Musk have claimed it is out of line with the Republican agenda.
The administration said this week it is eliminating more than 90 percent of USAID’s contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world, according to the Associated Press.
Supporters were spotted hugging employees as the tears flowed freely and workers carried out grocery bags full of personal belongings.
As workers left the building with their stuff, the crowd would clap to show their support.
Former USAID workers showed up to support those allowed back into agency headquarters to retrieve their belongings on February 27
A USAID employee hugs her cousin after workers cleared their desks in Washington, DC
A crowd of people gathered outside the Ronald Reagan Building to ‘clap out’ USAID staffers who showed up to pick up their belongings
A USAID worker holding flowers given to her as she showed up to retrieve her personal belongings at headquarters on February 27
Among those who showed up outside the support USAID workers as they exited the building was former administrator Samantha Power.
Power led the agency during the Biden administration and has been a fierce defender of its work as the Trump administration shut its doors and leveled accusations of waste and abuse.
The efforts to slash foreign aid and dismantle congressionally-created agencies have been met with legal challenges.
Former USAID administrator Samantha Power hugging a person outside USAID headquarters on February 27
Late Wednesday, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked an order giving the Trump administration a deadline to release billions of dollars in foreign aid this week.
Chief Justice John Roberts said the pause will remain in place until the country’s highest court can weigh in more fully.
It came ahead of the 11:59 pm deadline Wednesday night imposted by District Judge Amir Ali.
Roberts asked the plaintiffs, which are organizations that contract with or receive grants from USAID and the State Department, to respond by noon on Friday.