Amidst an ongoing investigation into potential pushback against President Trump's foreign aid directives, over fifty senior officials at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have been placed on administrative leave. Politico initially broke the story, reporting that at least 56 USAID officials were put on leave while retaining their full pay and benefits. Furthermore, several hundred contractors, both in Washington D.C. and other locations, have been laid off, according to sources who spoke with the Associated Press.

These actions follow Secretary of State Marco Rubio's implementation of a 90-day pause on all U.S. foreign assistance administered by the State Department and USAID, in accordance with a presidential executive order. This pause has impacted a vast number of U.S.-funded programs globally, encompassing humanitarian efforts, development initiatives, and security operations. The funding freeze has also had a ripple effect on aid organizations, forcing them to lay off personnel due to an inability to cover payroll expenses.

An internal USAID communication, circulated late Monday, indicated that acting administrator Jason Gray had identified actions within the agency that seemed to contravene the President's executive orders. Gray stated that several USAID employees were placed on administrative leave pending a comprehensive analysis of these actions. The specific executive orders in question remain unclear, as does the exact nature of the alleged violations.

Those placed on leave are reportedly career officials with service records spanning multiple administrations, including the Trump administration. Prior to their leave, these officials were actively working to mitigate the impact of the funding freeze on U.S.-funded aid organizations. Their efforts included seeking waivers to permit the continuation of critical activities such as providing clean water to displaced populations and maintaining global bird flu surveillance. Secretary Rubio has implemented narrow exemptions to the aid freeze, specifically for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

President Trump has been a vocal critic of foreign aid and has advocated for a thorough review of U.S. aid programs to prioritize American interests. The United States holds the position of the world's largest aid donor, having distributed $72 billion in assistance during the 2023 fiscal year and contributing 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.