At least 56 senior officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were placed on leave on Monday as part of an investigation into allegations that they attempted to undermine President Donald Trump’s directives. Two officials, one current and one former, confirmed the reason behind the action, though they spoke anonymously to avoid retaliation. Additionally, several hundred contractors working in Washington and other locations were also laid off.
This move follows an executive order from Trump last week, which implemented a 90-day halt on most U.S. foreign aid distributed through the State Department. As a result of the freeze, numerous U.S.-funded humanitarian, development, and security programs around the world have either halted operations or are preparing to do so. Many aid organizations have been forced to lay off staff due to a lack of funding.
An internal memo from USAID, sent late Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, stated that the agency’s new acting administrator, Jason Gray, had identified “several actions within USAID that seem aimed at bypassing the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people.” In the memo, acting USAID administrator Jason Gray explained that as a result of the identified actions, several USAID employees were placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits while the agency continues its review.
Though President Trump has signed numerous executive orders since taking office, the memo did not specify which orders the employees were suspected of violating. The officials placed on leave were experienced employees who had worked across multiple administrations, including Trump’s, according to a former USAID official.
Before being removed from their positions, these officials were working to help U.S.-funded aid organizations navigate the funding freeze. They were seeking waivers to allow continued critical operations, such as providing clean water to war-displaced people in Sudan and monitoring global bird flu outbreaks, the former official added.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made exceptions to the freeze on foreign aid, allowing emergency food programs and military assistance to Israel and Egypt to continue. The Trump administration, along with many Republican lawmakers who are skeptical about the need for foreign aid and want other nations to contribute more, plans to review each foreign assistance program. They aim to assess whether these programs serve U.S. interests and eliminate those deemed wasteful or focused on liberal social agendas.
Politico was the first to report on the USAID officials being placed on leave.