USAID Inspector General Fired Shortly After Criticizing Trump Administration’s Suspension of Aid – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
2:20 PM – Wednesday, February 12, 2025
The Trump administration has dismissed the inspector general of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is currently facing allegations of extensive fraud and money laundering. A recent investigation by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered a number of wasteful programs funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars.
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Inspector General Paul Martin was officially terminated on Tuesday. However, the announcement did not come from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is the acting director of the agency; instead, it originated from the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, raising further concerns about the circumstances of his dismissal.
This incident follows the release of a six-page report from Martin’s office on Monday, which indicated that the recent suspension of foreign aid programs and significant staffing cuts at USAID had created “risks and challenges to the safeguarding and allocation of USAID’s $8.2 billion in obligated but undisbursed humanitarian aid.”
“Specifically, USAID’s existing oversight mechanisms—although they had already been identified as having shortcomings—are now largely ineffective due to these recent directives and personnel changes,” the report stated.
This news came just a day after USAID employees expressed that the Trump administration’s dismantling efforts have rendered it nearly impossible to oversee the agency’s $8.2 billion in “humanitarian funds.”
A new law mandates that the Trump administration must give a 30-day notice to Congress before terminating an inspector general, along with providing detailed documentation supporting the reasoning for the termination.
Two weeks prior, Trump had dismissed at least 17 inspector generals across various federal departments.
Meanwhile, USAID employees continue to be scrutinized as DOGE, led by Elon Musk, investigates the agency’s expenditures and fiscal practices, with the likelihood of the agency being shut down in the near future.
Moreover, earlier this month, USAID announced on its website that most staff members would be placed on leave, with exceptions only for personnel involved in “mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs.”
Recent revelations have highlighted multiple instances of USAID funds being allocated to questionable individuals, groups, and initiatives. These included financing “pottery classes in Morocco,” a contribution to the Clinton Foundation amounting to $7.49 million, and a report indicating that USAID covered an Al-Qaeda terrorist’s tuition in Colorado.
Top Recipients of USAID Funding:
In FY-2023, USAID provided aid to approximately 130 countries. The ten principal recipients were:
- Ukraine
- Ethiopia
- Jordan
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Somalia
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Nigeria
- South Sudan
- Syria
Established in 1961 during the John F. Kennedy administration, USAID operates as an independent agency closely collaborating with the State Department to distribute U.S. taxpayer-funded foreign aid.
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