U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Paul Martin, the independent inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), just one day after his office released a report critical of the administration’s handling of the agency.
On Tuesday, February 11, Martin was notified of his dismissal via a brief email from the White House, stating that his position was “terminated, effective immediately,” without providing further explanation.
Martin’s office had recently issued a report highlighting that over $489 million in food assistance was at risk of spoilage or misallocation due to an aid freeze and a stop-work order imposed by the Trump administration. The report raised concerns about USAID’s operations, noting that staff reductions and uncertainty around foreign aid waivers had weakened the agency’s ability to manage and protect taxpayer-funded humanitarian aid.
While Trump had previously dismissed 18 inspectors general, who serve as independent watchdogs for the federal government, Martin—appointed by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden—had remained in his post until now.
The president, who began his second term last month, has been aggressively downsizing or dismantling various government agencies, a move driven by his top donor, billionaire Elon Musk. USAID, responsible for administering U.S. humanitarian aid worldwide, has been a primary target. The agency operates with a $42.8 billion budget across roughly 120 countries, playing a key role in U.S. soft power and geopolitical competition, particularly with China.
The Trump administration has frozen foreign aid, ordered the return of thousands of USAID staff from abroad, and begun reducing its workforce from 10,000 employees to approximately 300. Labor unions have contested the legality of these actions, and a federal judge recently issued a temporary order halting the plan to place 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave.
Democrats argue that Trump cannot shut down government agencies without congressional approval, raising constitutional concerns about the legality of his actions.
