Amidst a significant restructuring and investigation into its spending practices, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has seen its inspector general, Paul Martin, dismissed by the White House. This action, originating from the Office of Presidential Personnel rather than USAID itself, follows recent reports critical of the Trump administration's pause on aid and warnings about the difficulty of monitoring substantial humanitarian funds due to the agency's ongoing dismantling.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is currently scrutinizing USAID's financial operations, with potential outcomes including a complete agency shutdown. USAID announced a widespread staff furlough starting February 4th, with limited exceptions for essential personnel. Overseas missions have reportedly been instructed to cease operations.

Recent scrutiny of USAID's spending has unearthed instances of funds directed towards projects deemed questionable by some, such as an Iraqi version of "Sesame Street" and pottery workshops in Morocco. A report from the Middle East Forum also revealed millions of dollars in USAID funding going to groups linked with designated terrorist organizations.

Established in 1961 under the Kennedy administration, USAID has traditionally functioned as an independent body collaborating with the State Department on civilian foreign aid allocation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated the possibility of the agency's complete abolishment following its reorganization.