USAID officials put on leave for allegedly not abiding by executive order
Just after 6 p.m. EST on Monday, the Trump administration placed a number of senior career officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave for allegedly not abiding by President Trump’s executive order to freeze much of U.S. foreign aid.
NPR obtained a copy of a message sent to all USAID staff by acting administrator Jason Gray: “We have identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Order 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.”
The memo did not say how many people were placed on leave.
An agency staff member spoke about the memo to NPR on the condition of anonymity because of fears of retribution. “It’s shocking,” the individual said. “To my knowledge the stop-work order has been closely followed”
The staff member added that such an action by a new administration is unheard of.
Established in 1961, USAID provides assistance to strategically important countries and aims to alleviate poverty, disease, and humanitarian need as well as support economic growth. In fiscal year 2023, it had a budget of over $40 billion and a workforce of more than 10,000, with the majority working overseas.
On Inauguration Day, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in almost all foreign aid to give the administration a chance to ensure that it fits with its priorities. “The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values,” the executive order read.
Then on Friday, the State Department issued a “stop-work” order that surprised global health experts by stopping funds for not only future aid projects but also existing programs.
Over the weekend, USAID staff were told in an email by Ken Jackson, assistant to the administrator for management and resources, that the “pause on all foreign assistance means a complete halt” and that USAID staff should help ensure that aid work aligns with Trump’s America First policy and that staff who to ignore these orders could be disciplined. NPR obtained a copy of the email.
“Failure to abide by this directive, or any of the directives sent out earlier this week and in the coming weeks, will result in disciplinary action. I will hold leaders accountable to ensure their employees adhere to these expectations,” the email said. “We have a responsibility to support the President in achieving his vision. This will require each of us to be flexible, to work at a pace we may not be accustomed to, to challenge the basic assumptions surrounding foreign aid, and to make decisions that ensure the United States becomes safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
Trump administration changes course on in-person requirements for Social Security
After announcing social security recipients would be required to appear in-person at office locations, the Trump administration is now backtracking.
Jillian Lauren: What we know about police shooting of Weezer bassist’s wife
Jillian Lauren suffered a non-life-threatening injury this week when police shot her in her yard after they say she pointed a gun at them. Details about the incident in Los Angeles are still emerging.
House approves budget framework, kickstarting work on Trump’s domestic agenda
House Republicans narrowly adopted a multitrillion dollar budget framework on Thursday, paving the way for lawmakers to begin work on many of President Trump's top policy priorities.
Where do tariffs stand? A look at what’s in place and what’s on pause
Trump announced a 90-day pause on most country-specific tariffs, but left other duties in place. Here's a look at where things stand and what could happen next.
Shark attack survivor presses Alabama for an alert system to keep people safe in the water
Lulu Gribbin was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle. On Wednesday, she asked Alabama lawmakers to support a proposed shark attack alert system.
Reflections after 43 years in an Alabama prison
James Jones is one of thousands of men who served life without parole in an Alabama prison. He spent 43 years at the St. Clair Correctional Facility before being released at the age of 77.
