Trump Administration Places 60 Senior USAID Officials on Leave Amid Foreign Aid Freeze

Jan 28, 2025, 12:24 AM

The Trump administration has placed around 60 senior career officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave, effectively decimating the agency's leadership. The move comes after allegations that these officials attempted to circumvent President Trump's executive order, which froze all foreign aid pending a 90-day review. Acting USAID Administrator Jason Gray communicated to staff that the decision was made due to actions within the agency that appeared designed to bypass the president's directives. This action follows the State Department and USAID's compliance with the executive order to freeze almost all U.S. foreign assistance. More than 50 career civil servants, mostly at a senior level, were placed on leave effective immediately.