A significant number of senior officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were placed on administrative leave on Monday as part of an investigation into purported noncompliance with directives issued by President Donald Trump.
As reported by Politico, at least 56 USAID officials were put on paid administrative leave, retaining their benefits. Furthermore, sources from both current and former positions indicated to the Associated Press that several hundred contractors in Washington and other areas were also terminated.
These developments follow Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s execution of Trump’s executive order, which has temporarily suspended all U.S. foreign aid administered by or through the State Department and USAID. This 90-day suspension has significantly impacted numerous U.S.-funded humanitarian, development, and security initiatives globally, leading to the layoff of hundreds of employees within aid organizations due to payroll challenges, as reported.
An internal communication from USAID, sent to staff late Monday, indicated that the newly appointed acting administrator, Jason Gray, had identified “several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people.”
Gray’s memo stated, “Consequently, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice while we complete our analysis of these actions.” The notice did not clarify which specific executive orders were allegedly breached by USAID officials. According to the AP, “Rubio has specifically exempted only emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt from the freeze on foreign assistance,” as noted by Fox News.
President Trump has consistently criticized foreign aid, advocating for a thorough review of U.S. assistance programs to ensure they align with American interests while eliminating those that do not.
The United States continues to be the foremost provider of foreign aid globally. In the fiscal year 2023, the U.S. allocated $72 billion in assistance, representing 42% of all humanitarian aid monitored by the United Nations in 2024.
In related news, former President Trump announced on Monday the deployment of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to North Carolina to aid in the repair of riverbanks and roads that were damaged by Hurricane Helene.
During his visit to the state on Friday, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s slow response to the destruction in western North Carolina, questioning the delay and assuring that his administration would supply “the resources” necessary for the affected communities to recover.
“We have many plans in place, and we are preparing the Army Corps of Engineers,” Trump stated. “You require repairs to your riverbanks and numerous roads. We will accomplish this swiftly, and I have instructed Susie Wiles and my team to initiate contact.
“Prepare the Corps, as they will be ready to mobilize. I am uncertain about the reasons for the delay from the previous administration,” Trump remarked, as reported by Breitbart News.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which comprises approximately 37,000 dedicated civilians and soldiers providing engineering services in over 130 countries, is committed to enhancing the security of the United States by constructing and maintaining the nation’s infrastructure and offering military facilities for servicemembers to train, work, and reside, according to the organization’s website.
The website further states: “In accordance with the National Response Framework (NRF) and the authorities granted by the Stafford Act, USACE operates under FEMA’s direction as part of the federal team to assist state and local governments in responding to significant disasters.”
During his visit, Trump emphasized to local residents that he had not been in office “for the first four months.”
