USAID Inspector General Fired Following Report on Agency Downsizing Impact
Paul Martin, the USAID inspector general, was dismissed after releasing a report on the negative effects of agency downsizing by the Trump administration, which raised concerns about oversight and funding.
A worker removes the U.S. Agency for International Development sign on their headquarters on Feb. 7, 2025 in Washington, DC.
The inspector general at the U.S. Agency for International Development was fired Tuesday, a day after his office released a report detailing the negative impact of the Trump administration's dramatic downsizing of the agency, according to a letter obtained by NBC News.
Paul Martin, who had been USAID's inspector general since 2023, was notified of his dismissal by email.
"On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development is terminated, effective immediately," Trent Morse, deputy director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, informed Martin in an email obtained by NBC News. "Thank you for your service."
CNN first reported Martin's firing.
The report by USAID's Office of the Inspector General, led by Martin, warned of the dangers associated with the gap in staffing, including a lack of oversight that may leave the agency "susceptible to inadvertently funding entities or salaries of individuals associated with U.S.-designated terrorist organizations."
It also described the uncertainty surrounding the waivers for lifesaving assistance issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which it said put "more than $489 million of food assistance at ports, in transit, and in warehouses at risk of spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and diversion."
Martin informed his staff of his removal shortly after he received the termination notice.
"It has been a true honor and pleasure to walk alongside my OIG colleagues around the world as we sought to provide independent and aggressive oversight of USAID programs and personnel," Martin wrote in the email. "Take care of yourselves and take care of each other. And, as always, thank you for what you do and how you do it."
The White House did not immediately respond Tuesday night to a request for comment on Martin's dismissal.
