If you’re reading this, you no doubt know AFSA is an essential resource for members of the Foreign Service. AFSA is currently involved in five legal cases fighting unlawful actions by the current administration, including one lawsuit specifically fighting the abrupt and illegal dismantling of USAID.
AFSA members have access to our many alumni resources, including information about reductions in force. Resources available at https://afsa.org/2026-resource-hub include retirement benefits FAQs; links to State and USAID communications; links to webinars and other videos offering expert retirement, employment, and MSPB advice; information on Medicare; and more.
Beyond AFSA, organizations both big and small, new and long established, are working to support former USAID Foreign Service members and development work. Here is a collection of such resources. If you learn of other organizations, please let us know at journal@afsa.org.
Aid on the Hill
https://www.aidonthehill.org
Aid on the Hill is a nonpartisan, practitioner-led initiative dedicated to strengthening U.S. international assistance as a strategic instrument of peace, prosperity, and global leadership. They provide briefings on foreign assistance to members of Congress and ordinary citizens alike; they also develop policy reports and advocacy campaigns. Membership is free, though they do suggest a donation if possible. Find their latest publications and other resources at https://www.aidonthehill.org/resources.
Aid Transition Alliance (AidTA)
https://www.aidtransitionalliance.org/
The Aid Transition Alliance launched in April 2025 to focus on crisis interventions to preserve decades of international development knowledge and expertise. They offer career transition assistance, mental health and wellness resources, and other support to the international development community. With support and fiscal sponsorship from Forward Global Philanthropy and funding from Rockefeller Foundation, Packard Foundation, and other private donors, AidTA has undertaken critical activities serving thousands of development professionals.
Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL)
https://a4al.org
The Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) is a nonpartisan coalition of young professionals and foreign policy experts dedicated to revitalizing U.S. global leadership through strategic investments in development. Founded in 2025, the alliance has team members and volunteers across all 50 states working to reform global aid and encourage public support of aid programs that fight poverty, strengthen alliances, and boost the U.S. economy.
The Callimachus Project
https://thecallimachusproject.org
This group interviews former civil servants across agencies, including at USAID, to capture their knowledge of how their agencies worked, as well as operational wisdom and recommendations for rebuilding the roles they used to fill. The goal is a free, AI-enabled platform that allows policymakers, civil servants, researchers, journalists, and citizens to access practical government knowledge and expertise. Group founders hope this will help to rebuild the Civil and Foreign Service in the future, demystifying the work and rebuilding public trust in an expert, well-trained, and well-informed Civil Service. Interested former Civil and Foreign Service members can go to the website to sign up for an interview.
Crisis in Care
https://www.crisisincare.org
This volunteer organization was launched by former USAID workers to directly raise philanthropic funds for community groups. They direct this money to overseas medical and HIV services that have lost essential U.S. government backing.
Development Knowledge Commons
https://www.development-commons.org
The Development Knowledge Commons is a project of USAID Knowledge Rescue, a team of practitioners, researchers, and technologists committed to preserving and institutionalizing six decades of operational development experience formerly held by USAID. Operating under the Aid Transition Alliance (AidTA), a fiscally sponsored project of Forward Global, the Commons has more than 100,000 rescued documents, searchable by type, language, geography, and primary subject.
Foreign Affairs Support Network
https://fasnetwork.org
This nonprofit is developing a confidential, peer-based support network for colleagues experiencing stress, trauma, and “the unique personal and professional demands of global service.” The group is currently recruiting and training a founding cohort of “peer supporters.” Go to their website to become a peer supporter or to access free support for yourself and your family.
Friends of USAID
https://www.instagram.com/friendsofusaid/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/friends-of-usaid/posts/
On Instagram, this group says: “We’re former USAID folks fighting for aid & democracy.” Pay them a visit and you’ll find inspirational posts on former USAID employees running for office and informational content on what we’ve lost with the demise of USAID. You’ll also find the group posting foreign assistance content on LinkedIn.
Legal Resources
General Consumer Law Resources
- What to Do If You Were Incorrectly Sent to Collections (Credit.com)
- You Received a Collection Notice—Now What? (IRS/Taxpayer Advocate)
- Why did I get a notice saying I have an overdue debt? (Treasury/Bureau of Fiscal Services)
- Debt Collection FAQs (Federal Trade Commission)
District of Columbia
Maryland
- Debt Collectors and the Law
- Legal Resources and Federal Employment Rules and Regulations
- Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Services
Virginia
Grounded Idealist
https://www.groundedidealist.co/workers
Established in 2025, Grounded Idealist is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a safety net for public servants affected by mass layoffs in the federal workplace. They created the largest social-impact-focused coaching network supporting public servants, the Coaching Collaborative, which offers pro bono coaching to former USAID staff.
KonTerra Group
https://www.konterragroup.net
The KonTerra Group, a privately owned company that previously managed USAID Staff Care services, partnered with Aid Transition Alliance in 2025 to provide confidential individual counseling support in more than 50 languages. They have a free library of resources related to the foreign assistance freeze available at https://www.konterragroup.net/staff-care-resources/usg-foreign-aid-freeze/.
OneAID
https://oneaidcommunity.org/community-network/
OneAID is an information and connection hub for professionals, partners, and supporters of the U.S. foreign assistance community that boasts more than 17,000 members and followers worldwide across social media platforms. From social gatherings to storytelling and educational events, webinars, and volunteer opportunities, they offer inclusive and accessible ways to connect, learn, and contribute. Browse their resource library at https://oneaidcommunity.org/support-resources/.
Our USAID Community
No website available.
Led by former members of USAID’s workforce, Our USAID Community was founded in February 2025 to help USAID members individually and collectively advocate for their rights and seek accountability for the dismantling of USAID. The group is a welcoming and supportive community for all members of USAID’s global workforce as they navigate separation and post-separation from USAID. The group shares up-to-date information on USAID court cases at https://bit.ly/lawsuit-tracker-Our-AID-community. To join, email volunteers@ourusaidcommunity.org. Use the subject line “request to join” and explain your connection to USAID.
Pragmatic Panic
https://www.pragmaticpanic.org/
Pragmatic Panic is a legal advocacy organization offering both advocacy and direct support to former Feds. Via their “Justice for USAID” program they are raising funds for legal action in support of the thousands of USAID employees who were terminated without due process. The nonprofit was founded by lawyer Andrew Cheatham, a former senior adviser for global policy and disruptive technologies at the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP), and was featured in the May-June 2025 edition of Washington Lawyer.
Project Resource Optimization
https://proimpact.tools/
Established in February 2025, former USAID staffers, responding to the dismantling of the agency and sudden cuts to U.S. foreign aid, launched Project Resource Optimization (PRO) to bridge the resulting funding gap. The initiative hit a major milestone in July, mobilizing more than $110 million in philanthropic capital in just six months. The result is that 41 million people in more than 30 countries will continue receiving life-saving health and humanitarian aid.
Stand Up for AID
https://www.usaidstopwork.com/
Stand Up for AID collects statistics and publicizes personal stories of what’s been lost with the demise of USAID. Share your own story or read stories by others from 46 states and Washington, D.C. Use their template to write to your congressperson in support of USAID and other assistance programs.
USAID Alumni Association (UAA)
https://usaidalumni.org
The USAID Alumni Association, established in 2009, is a network of more than 1,100 former USAID staff members who work to promote exchange of knowledge among alumni who wish to use their public service experience to advance global development and sound U.S. foreign assistance. Full membership is available for a nominal fee to former direct hire employees, including Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs); spouses and partners can become associate members. Those who choose not to become members can still register with UAA to receive emails and participate in some social activities.
