U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed Paul Martin, the independent inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), following the release of a critical report on the agency’s management under his administration.
According to The Washington Post, CNN, and other outlets, Martin received a brief email from the White House on February 11 stating his termination was “effective immediately,” without providing further explanation.
Martin’s office had recently published a report warning that $489 million in food assistance was at risk due to an aid freeze and stop-work order imposed by the Trump administration. The report highlighted staffing reductions and uncertainty around foreign aid waivers as factors that weakened USAID’s ability to manage humanitarian aid effectively.
Martin, appointed by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, had remained in office despite Trump dismissing 18 other inspectors general during his presidency.
Since beginning his second term, Trump has aggressively sought to downsize or dismantle several government agencies, with billionaire donor Elon Musk leading the effort. USAID, which manages a $42.8 billion budget and operates in 120 countries, has been a primary target of these initiatives.
The Trump administration has frozen foreign aid, ordered USAID staff abroad to return to the U.S., and reduced the agency’s workforce from 10,000 employees to about 300.
Labor unions are challenging these actions, and a federal judge recently halted Trump’s plan to place 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave.
Democrats argue that the president lacks the authority to shut down government agencies without congressional approval, raising constitutional concerns over the administration’s actions.
