WASHINGTON – The White House fired an inspector Tuesday for the U.S. International Development Agency, several U.S. officials said. The firing comes a day after his office warned that the dismantling of the Trump administration’s USAID made it impossible to monitor $8.2 billion with $8.2 billion in humanitarian funds.
The White House did not give any reason for inspector Paul Martin’s firing, one official said. The termination was first reported by CNN. Officials were not permitted to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Inspectors are usually independently funded watchdogs attached to US agencies that are tasked with eradicating waste, fraud and abuse at government agencies. The Trump administration previously expelled more than a dozen inspector generals.
On Monday, Martin’s office issued a flash report warning that the Trump administration’s funding freeze within USAID and staff actions had “mainly surgery” oversight of humanitarian assistance.
This includes the significantly reduced capacity of agencies to ensure that none of the $8.2 billion unused inhuman funds are in the hands of violent extremist groups or are not wandering into conflict zones. , Watchdog said.
Separately, the lawsuit filed Tuesday claims that the Trump administration’s fast-paced dismantling of USAID is tightening American businesses with a hundred million dollars of unpaid bill for work already underway. did.
The sudden freeze in foreign aid also forces large layoffs by USAID US suppliers and contractors, including 750 Farrows at one Washington-based Chemonics International company, the lawsuit says. It’s there.
“We cannot overstate the impact of that illegal course of action. For businesses large and small, they are forced to close their programs and let go of their employees. Go to hungry children around the world without “You can do it for groups around the world facing fatal illnesses. And about our constitutional order,” said American businesses and organizations.
Organizations representing American Jewish groups supporting 170 US businesses, major suppliers, foreign displaced people, the American Bar Association and others took part in the court’s challenge.
He submitted it on behalf of President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and USAID Deputy Administrator Peter Marrocco in Washington. Management and budget office.
This is the third lawsuit regarding the administration’s rapid elucidation of U.S. Aid Development Agency and its programs around the world at least. Trump and his allies Elon Musk have specifically targeted USAID, and said the work is on par with Trump’s agenda.
Marrocco, Musk and Rubio oversee the full freeze on foreign aid and agency closures under Trump’s January 20th executive order. The lawsuit brought by the Federal Employees Association has temporarily blocked thousands of USAID staff from being pulled away from work. Funding freezes and other measures continue, including agencies that have lost their Washington headquarters lease.
Businessman with a USAID contract, an email seen by the Associated Press, the new administration ended the contract without the necessary 30-day notice or back payment for work already done . They spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation by the Trump administration.
For Chemonics, one of its USAID partners, the funding freeze will be around $500 million in unpaid invoices and USID order drugs, foods and other products that have stagnated in the supply chain or port. means, the lawsuit says.
Health products alone could “contribute to as many as 566,000 deaths due to unmet reproductive needs, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and 215,000 child deaths on time,” the lawsuit states.
The submission argues that the administration does not have the authority to block programs and funds mandated by Congress without approval.
Marrocco defended the funding cutoff to place all but a small portion of the USAID staff on leave in an affidavit filed late Monday in a lawsuit filed by the Workers Group. .
“Disobedience” and “No Compliance” by USAID staff will suspend government funding and operations to determine which US aid programs can be reopened overseas by government Marrocco wrote that it needs to be done.
Meanwhile, seven Republican lawmakers on the farm have introduced legislation to protect a $1.8 billion food aid program run by fighting aid agencies by moving food for peace under the Department of Agriculture. .
Farmers, a politically important bloc for the Trump administration, are also affected by the administration’s funding freeze. Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, who announced the law, thanked Rubio over the weekend for allowing him to deliver $560 million US grown goods aimed at hunger programs around the world. However, due to a rapid reduction in foreign support, they remained at the port.
