US President Donald Trump has dismissed Paul Martin, the independent inspector general for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), just a day after his office released a report criticizing the administration’s handling of foreign aid.
According to reports from The Washington Post and CNN, Martin was informed of his removal via a brief email from the White House on Tuesday, February 11. The message stated that his position was “terminated, effective immediately,” but provided no explanation for the decision.
Martin’s office had recently warned that over $489 million in food aid was at risk of spoilage or misallocation due to the administration’s aid freeze and stop-work order. The report also pointed to staffing reductions and foreign aid uncertainty as factors degrading USAID’s ability to manage humanitarian assistance.
Since beginning his second term, Trump has aggressively moved to downsize federal agencies, with USAID being a primary target. His administration has frozen foreign aid, recalled thousands of USAID staff, and launched plans to reduce the agency’s workforce from 10,000 employees to around 300.
Democrats and labor unions are challenging these measures, arguing that the president cannot unilaterally dismantle government agencies without congressional approval. A federal judge recently issued a temporary halt on Trump’s plan to place 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave.
The dismissal of Martin marks the latest in a series of inspector general removals, as Trump continues to shake up government oversight roles amid his push for sweeping administrative changes.