US President Donald Trump has dismissed Paul Martin, the independent inspector general of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), according to multiple media reports on Wednesday.
Martin’s termination came just a day after his office released a report criticizing the administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency. Outlets including The Washington Post and CNN cited a brief email from the White House on Tuesday informing Martin that his position was “terminated, effective immediately,” without providing any justification.
The inspector general’s report had raised concerns about the potential waste of over $489 million in food aid following the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze and stop-work order. It highlighted longstanding challenges in preventing fraud and mismanagement, warning that recent mass layoffs and restrictions on foreign aid had weakened USAID’s ability to manage humanitarian assistance effectively.
Since returning to office last month, Trump has been leading a large-scale effort—backed by billionaire donor Elon Musk—to downsize or dismantle several government agencies, with USAID facing the most aggressive cuts. Despite previously firing 18 inspectors general during his first term, Martin—who was appointed by former President Joe Biden—had remained in office until now.
USAID, which operates in around 120 countries and oversees a $42.8 billion budget, has played a critical role in US foreign policy and global humanitarian aid. However, the Trump administration has imposed severe restrictions, recalling thousands of internationally stationed employees and slashing the agency’s workforce from 10,000 to just 300.
Labor unions have challenged the legality of these drastic measures, and a federal judge recently ordered a temporary halt to the administration’s plan to place 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave.
Democratic lawmakers argue that Trump’s attempts to dismantle government agencies without congressional approval are unconstitutional, further fueling political tensions in Washington.
