Seda Sevencan
12 February 2025•Update: 13 February 2025
ISTANBUL
The Trump administration fired the inspector general of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday, just a day after the watchdog office published a report that was critical of the Trump administration’s handling of the agency, which the administration has been trying to defund or shut down, according to CNN.
A source familiar with the matter told CNN that Paul Martin, who had served in the role since December 2023, got an email from the deputy director of the Office of Presidential Personnel informing him that his position was “terminated, effective immediately.”
A spokesperson for the USAID Office of the Inspector General confirmed Martin’s removal but did not provide an explanation for the decision.
The dismissal came after Martin’s office published a report on Monday saying the Trump administration's move to dismantle USAID has crippled its ability to conduct oversight of unspent aid worth $8.2 billion. The Trump administration says it is at war with government waste, but eliminating a watchdog office would seem to conflict with that goal.
In addition to Martin’s firing, staff members from the USAID Inspector General’s Office were informed they could no longer access their physical office space, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Although the Trump administration had previously ordered the closure of USAID’s Washington headquarters, personnel from the watchdog’s office had continued to work there until Tuesday.
USAID has historically provided funding to a range of non-governmental organizations to support its mission of promoting global development and humanitarian assistance.
However, following suggestions from billionaire Trump campaign donor Elon Musk, who heads the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration initiated the shutdown of USAID operations both domestically and internationally, leading to widespread disruptions in global aid programs and affecting numerous NGOs and media organizations that have relied on USAID funding.
