About J4U

Justice for USAID is a fundraising effort of Our USAID Community, a grassroots, all-volunteer organization of more than 2,450 former USAID workers from every hiring category — a wider group than the roughly 2,200 career federal employee appellants this fund covers. Funds disbursement decisions are made by a Steering Committee, a body of appellants including pro-se filers and non-voting representatives of the AFSA and AFGE L1534 employee unions. Pragmatic Panic, our fiscal sponsor, provides fiduciary management of the funds.

What happened

For six decades, USAID answered earthquakes, famines, and outbreaks; helped countries recover from conflict; and carried American interests and American expertise into the hardest places in the world. In 2025, without an act of Congress, it was dismantled — terminating the  largest and most experienced foreign assistance workforce in the world.

More than 2,200 career Foreign Service Officers and Civil Service employees are now before the Merit Systems Protection Board, contesting terminations they argue violated federal law.

They are not bringing one case. Career federal employees pursue claims like these individually, through an administrative process rather than as a single action in court — which means more than two thousand separate appeals, each carrying its own costs, filed by people who lost their income the same year.

Why this matters beyond USAID

The people bringing these appeals served under administrations of both parties, many of them for decades. They were hired through competitive processes, promoted on performance, and expected to carry out the policy of whichever government the country elected. That is what a professional civilian workforce is, and it is not an accident — it was built deliberately, out of an era when federal jobs were handed out as political favors.

What these appeals test is whether the protections that make that system work still hold. The answer matters to every American who depends on a government that runs on expertise rather than loyalty, whatever they think about foreign assistance, and whoever they voted for.

What the fund does

Two things:

  • Shared resources that reach appellants regardless of which firm represents them, or whether anyone does — legal research tools, webinars, and guidance for the several hundred people filing on their own.

  • Cost-sharing with participating firms, which lowers what appellants pay their own counsel.

Money is released only to law firms and legal service providers. No part of it is ever paid to an individual appellant. Contributions are held by Pragmatic Panic Legal and Social Services, our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, which retains 15 percent for administration and provides fiduciary management of the funds.

Disbursements are made by Pragmatic Panic as advised by a Steering Committee composed of appellants and pro se filers — by majority quorum.

Where things stand

It has been a year. Most of these appeals are now in discovery, the stage where the evidentiary record is built and where the real expenses arrive: expert witnesses, transcripts, filing fees, document review. Appellants have already paid more than $3.5 million out of pocket.

The costs are landing now. Any relief is years away, and uncertain.

Why we are asking you

There is one thing the people at the center of this cannot do. This fund cannot accept contributions from the people it exists to support — a gift from a direct beneficiary would put the tax-deductible status of every other contribution at risk.

So they have given it everything else. The evenings, the organizing, the stories, a year of work by volunteers with their own cases pending.

The rest is yours to do.

FAQs

  • Here is what happens to a $100 donation. Card processing takes 3 percent, or $3. Pragmatic Panic, our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, retains 15 percent, or $15, for administration. The remaining $82 is available for approved legal costs. That money is released only to law firms and legal service providers who represent an appellant with a client agreement with Pragmatic Panic. No part of it is ever paid to an individual appellant. The 15 percent covers the fiduciary handling of the funds, the donation platform, donor communications, and the compliance work a charitable fund requires. Every other part of this campaign is run by volunteers.

    More than 2,200 career Foreign Service officers and Civil Service employees are now before the Merit Systems Protection Board, contesting terminations they argue violated federal law.

    They are not bringing one case. Career federal employees pursue claims like these individually, through an administrative process rather than as a single action in court — which means more than two thousand separate appeals, each carrying its own costs, filed by people who lost their income the same year.

  • Three things, to date:

    • Discovery costs for one consolidated group of appellants — the depositions, document review and related expenses that arrive during the evidence-gathering stage of an appeal. 

    • A legal research platform license, serving appellants across the population, including people filing without a lawyer.

    • A webinar series produced by a law firm to support appellants navigating the process, whether or not they have counsel.

  • Anyone except the people this fund could directly benefit. Contributions from direct beneficiaries would put the tax-deductible status of every other gift at risk. Appellants who want to put money toward their own case can pay their retained counsel directly — that is a private transaction, and this restriction does not touch it. If you are a current or former USAID direct-hire Foreign Service or Civil Service employee with an MSPB appeal this fund could support, please don't give — contributions from direct beneficiaries would put the tax-deductible status of every other gift at risk. Everyone else can give: former USAID workers  in other hiring categories, colleagues at other agencies, family, friends, and everyone else who believes in supporting the fight for justice.

  • Yes. Donations are processed through Pragmatic Panic Legal and Social Services, a registered 501(c)(3) organization serving as J4U's fiscal sponsor. EIN 33-1944051. You will receive an acknowledgment by email that serves as your receipt, and it can be submitted for employer matching.

  • The costs arrive now. Any relief is years away and uncertain. Most of these appeals are in discovery, the stage where the evidentiary record is built and where the expenses land — expert witnesses, transcripts, filing fees, document review. Appellants have already paid more than $3.5 million out of pocket. Whatever a decision eventually awards, it will not reach anyone in time to pay for the work being done this year.

  • No. This fund supports employment appeals brought by individual people who argue their terminations were unlawful. It is not an effort to restore the agency, and it is not partisan.

    The people it supports served under administrations of both parties, in many cases for decades.

  • J4U is organized by Our USAID Community (OUC) in partnership with Pragmatic Panic, our fiscal sponsor. OUC and J4U are in regular contact with AFGE L1534 and AFSA so that this fund complements union resources rather than duplicating them. 

  • Only if you choose. Donations are not published, and Justice for USAID does not maintain a public donor list.

  • Under our agreement with Pragmatic Panic, funds not disbursed for legal support are redirected by agreement between the Steering Committee and Pragmatic Panic to purposes that support USAID personnel or USAID's development and humanitarian mission. Nothing reverts to an individual.

  • Yes. Recurring monthly gifts are the most useful kind, because the costs of an appeal arrive steadily over years rather than all at once. Many employers match charitable contributions, which can double a gift at no additional cost to you. Donor-advised fund grants and gifts of appreciated securities are also welcome — contact us and we will provide what your administrator needs. In addition, proceeds from purchases at our J4USAID Merch Shop go directly to the fund.

Donate Now

Questions? Please reach out to the J4U Fundraising Team at j4ufundraisingteam@ourusaidcommunity.org