USAID humanitarian aid destined for Venezuela is displayed for the media at a warehouse next to the Tienditas International Bridge on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)
According to the Associated Press, an internal USAID notice sent late Monday said new acting administrator Jason Gray had identified "several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people."
"As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice while we complete our analysis of these actions," Gray wrote.
AFTER RAUCOUS FIRST WEEK IN OFFICE, DONALD TRUMP TO KEEP HIS FOOT ON THE GAS
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has paused most foreign aid through the State Department in compliance with Trump's order. (Oliver Contreras/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Those placed on leave were career officials who had served in multiple administrations, including Trump's, the former USAID official told the AP.
Before those officials were removed from the job Monday, they were scrambling to help U.S.-funded aid organizations cope with the new funding freeze and seek waivers to continue life-saving activities, from getting clean water to war-displaced people in Sudan to continuing to monitor for bird flu globally, the former official said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has specifically exempted only emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt from the freeze on foreign assistance.
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Trump has criticized foreign aid and called for a review of U.S. aid programs to determine which put American interests first and which should be eliminated.
The U.S. is the largest donor of aid globally. During fiscal year 2023, the U.S. dispersed $72 billion in assistance. It also provided 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Chris Pandolfo is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. Send tips to chris.pandolfo@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/usaid-workers-put-leave-trump-officials-investigate-resistance-aid-pause