The U.S. State Department has ordered the shutdown of overseas missions of U.S. Agency for International Development and is working to recall thousands of staff worldwide, two sources familiar with the discussions said on Tuesday.

"We are being tasked to assist the department in recalling USAID employees to the United States by Saturday," State Department official Seth Green wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday.

Dozens of senior officials put on leave. Thousands of contractors laid off. A freeze put on billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance to other countries.

In its first two weeks, President Donald Trump’s administration has made significant changes to the U.S. Agency for International Development

President Donald Trump's overhaul of U.S. foreign assistance has led to chaos in the aid and development field, leaving hundreds of contractors in a severe financial crunch with some already having to lay off staff and others facing millions of dollars in unpaid invoices.