U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed Paul Martin, the inspector general of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision was confirmed by multiple media outlets, including The Washington Post and CNN, on Wednesday.
Martin’s termination came just a day after his office released a report that was critical of the administration’s handling of foreign aid. A two-sentence email from the White House on Tuesday informed Martin that his position was “terminated, effective immediately,” but no specific reason was given for the sudden dismissal.
The report from Martin’s office raised concerns over the Trump administration’s decision to freeze foreign aid, warning that over $489 million in food assistance could either go to waste or be misused. The report also stated that USAID has “identified significant challenges and offered recommendations to improve Agency programming to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.”
It further noted that recent staffing cuts within USAID, along with uncertainty regarding foreign aid policies, have weakened the agency’s ability to effectively distribute taxpayer-funded humanitarian assistance.
Martin is the latest in a series of inspectors general removed by Trump since he took office for his second term last month. In total, 18 independent watchdogs have been fired, though Martin, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, had remained in his position until now.
Trump’s administration, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, has been pushing to reduce or completely dismantle various government agencies. USAID, which plays a critical role in delivering U.S. humanitarian aid across 120 countries, has been a major target. The agency manages a budget of $42.8 billion, accounting for nearly half of the world’s humanitarian aid distribution.
The administration has already implemented a foreign aid freeze, recalled thousands of USAID employees stationed abroad, and drastically reduced the agency’s workforce. Reports indicate that the number of USAID staff, which once stood at around 10,000, is expected to shrink to just 300.
Labor unions have pushed back against these changes, questioning their legality. On Friday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration’s plan to place 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave. Meanwhile, Democrats argue that Trump does not have the authority to shut down government agencies without approval from Congress.
