According to three USAID staff familiar with the matter, officials of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) visited the US AID headquarters on Monday, while the International Aid Agency employees building a building. I was prevented from entering, according to three staff familiar with the matter.
In the alleged office fuel survey, speculations that the CBP intended to take over the USAID office was removed from the building and after the Trump administration removed the agency’s lease. ۔
CBP and USAID already have an office space at the same address, which is the Ronald Reagan Building.
One staff told The Guardian that he witnessed dozens of people with the CBP, General Service Administration (GSA) – who entered the office of the Inspector General’s lease to public places – and the Inspector General’s office entered the office throughout the day. It happens.
“Someone came to us on an occasion and asked, ‘Oh, is this USAID? The staff said that we are for a walkthrough here.” Meanwhile, our luggage is still there, and we have to get it. Not allowed. “
The staff also reported the removal of office equipment to the unused officials, including “to the printer in the lift.”
The potential occupation also violates the temporary prevention order (TRO) issued last week against the agency’s closure. At the end of Monday night, employees received a text message obtained by the Guardian, calling the building a “ex -US aid headquarters” – a language that associated with US foreign services against the Trump administration The association immediately submitted a recent legal complaint.
“Beyond non -compliance with TRO, realistic progress that immediately on February 7. Before and after, it has also suggested that the government potentially underdeveloped steps to abolish the agency Before the court continues to decide on the laws of these operations, “read the complaint.
The CBP, which enforces immigration laws and works on US borders and admission ports, has emerged as the focus of Trump’s federal agencies to new shape. The administration has long indicated that it will dramatically increase the CBP powers and resources while reducing foreign aid programs.
The clear diagnosis of office space also comes during an abnormal turmoil in USAID. The Trump administration is allegedly planning to keep less than 611 USAID staff lower than more than 10,000 employees.
Last week, thousands of employees were suddenly closed with their email accounts and accessed without any notice. Although employees were restored after legal proceedings by the unions, most of the staff is unable to enter the headquarters building.
On Friday, a temporary ban was issued on Friday about the agency’s administrative departure policy and the memory of overseas personnel. However, there are questions about the status of USAID’s physical headquarters and employees’ personal goods, which are still inside the building.
USAID staff who tried to enter the building on Monday were told that according to the staff there, only a handful of approved agency employees were allowed to access.
USAID, CBP and GSA did not return a comment.
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