President Donald Trump has dismissed Paul Martin, the inspector general of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), amid renewed scrutiny over the agency’s spending practices. Martin, who had served in the role since 2023, was notified via email from a White House official on Tuesday that his termination was "effective immediately." No reason was provided for his firing, and the White House declined to comment on the decision.  

 

Martin’s removal came just a day after his office released a report criticizing Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funds, revealing that billions had been wasted on questionable initiatives in recent years. The firing also coincided with resurfaced revelations that USAID had previously funded the education of an al Qaeda operative with ties to the 9/11 hijackers.  

 

Documents obtained by Fox News revealed that USAID provided tuition assistance to American-born jihadist Anwar al-Awlaki, who attended Colorado State University in 1990. Al-Awlaki, who later became a key figure in al Qaeda, had allegedly falsified his application by claiming he was born in Yemen rather than New Mexico. This deception allowed him to receive more than $27,000 in federal tuition funding.  

 

Al-Awlaki graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1994 before becoming an influential preacher who US officials believe radicalized and recruited terrorists. His activities led to his designation as a high-priority target, and in 2011, then-President Barack Obama authorized a drone strike that killed him in Yemen.  

 

Following the revelations, Trump on Tuesday criticized USAID as an "incompetent and corrupt" institution. His administration had already implemented a freeze on most US foreign aid on January 20, citing concerns over wasteful spending. He has now enlisted billionaire Elon Musk to lead efforts to scale down the agency’s operations.  

 

The controversy over USAID’s financial management has intensified as details emerge about its expenditures on left-wing initiatives. Reports suggest that billions of taxpayer dollars have been allocated to projects that critics argue lack accountability and oversight. Trump’s decision to remove Martin signals a broader effort to overhaul the agency and tighten restrictions on foreign aid spending.  

 

With USAID under increasing scrutiny, the future of US foreign aid remains uncertain. As Trump moves to restructure the agency, questions persist over how funds were allocated and whether further revelations will emerge regarding its past financial mismanagement.

 

Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-14

 

 

"...a report criticizing Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funds, revealing that billions had been wasted on questionable initiatives in recent years."

Trump or his minions haven't revealed squat about wasted billions. Wild assertions not backed up with evidence and facts, or simply naming which program in which department

Trump say billions had been wasted with no particulars is more of his grifter "puffery"

Completely misleading article. He was fired because he highlighted the fact that $500m worth of food was going to waste because of the freeze on USAID. 

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/usaid-inspector-fired-trump-freeze-b2696917.html

8 minutes ago, Marcous said:

Completely misleading article. He was fired because he highlighted the fact that $500m worth of food was going to waste because of the freeze on USAID. 

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/usaid-inspector-fired-trump-freeze-b2696917.html

 500m worth of food was going to spoil in the 3 weeks since Trump took office

What exactly were they supplying in aid, dairy cream cakes and fruit?

Smells a bit like the usual MSM BS.

 

Good move by Trump.

 

Draining the swamp. 

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

 500m worth of food was going to spoil in the 3 weeks since Trump took office

What exactly were they supplying in aid, dairy cream cakes and fruit?

Smells a bit like the usual MSM BS.

 

Talk to the small farmers who were the primary suppliers to the USAid food programs. They voted Trump and now have nothing but scorn for him 

A fraud accusing another of fraud,without proof.i think it was mark twain who said a lie can travel half way around the world before the truth can get its socks on….

23 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Good move by Trump.

 

Draining the swamp. 

 

Well done, President Trump!

 

Please keep up your good work.

6 minutes ago, Tug said:

i think it was mark twain who said a lie can travel half way around the world before the truth can get its socks on….

Why are you having a personal conversation with yourself here?

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Good move by Trump.

 

Draining the swamp. 

Have you ever listen to these wack jobs 

on the left,during Oversight committee meetings trying to to defend sending 

millions to another country supporting 

sex change programs ?

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Talk to the small farmers who were the primary suppliers to the USAid food programs. They voted Trump and now have nothing but scorn for him 

So what aid is about to spoil?

 

The farmers can sell to their fellow US citizens, or are you saying they are only surviving by selling to USAID?

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Talk to the small farmers who were the primary suppliers to the USAid food programs. They voted Trump and now have nothing but scorn for him 

So their products are so bad, all they can do is send overseas to people that are starving? 

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

"...a report criticizing Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funds, revealing that billions had been wasted on questionable initiatives in recent years."

Trump or his minions haven't revealed squat about wasted billions. Wild assertions not backed up with evidence and facts, or simply naming which program in which department

Trump say billions had been wasted with no particulars is more of his grifter "puffery"

Yep - You only believe the Marxist news and propaganda heard on the mass media.  Does it have to be billions before a stop to this practice in needed?  Idiot.

2 hours ago, Tug said:

A fraud accusing another of fraud,without proof.i think it was mark twain who said a lie can travel half way around the world before the truth can get its socks on….

Tug - you back again with your idiotic remarks.  Disappear again.  You were not missed and will not be missed.

4 hours ago, Emdog said:

"...a report criticizing Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funds, revealing that billions had been wasted on questionable initiatives in recent years."

Trump or his minions haven't revealed squat about wasted billions. Wild assertions not backed up with evidence and facts, or simply naming which program in which department

Trump say billions had been wasted with no particulars is more of his grifter "puffery"

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

So what aid is about to spoil?

 

The farmers can sell to their fellow US citizens, or are you saying they are only surviving by selling to USAID?

Too late for any other silly ideas, farmers blame Trump. Trump let them down his own MAGA supporters. 
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/us-farmers-trump-let-them-160546286.html

59 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

Tug - you back again with your idiotic remarks.  Disappear again.  You were not missed and will not be missed.

I assume that you are only speaking on your own behalf!

 

Keep up the good work @Tug

21 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/

I thought they are after fraud. So no evidence of fraud. 

Hitler started firing all the high ranking officers around him to the point that no one dared tell him the truth, that turned out kinda bad for him.

 

Stalin went through a similar state of paranoia and isolation before his ugly death.

 

Not quite sure why this comes to mind here . . .

 

5 hours ago, Emdog said:

"...a report criticizing Trump’s decision to freeze USAID funds, revealing that billions had been wasted on questionable initiatives in recent years."

Trump or his minions haven't revealed squat about wasted billions. Wild assertions not backed up with evidence and facts, or simply naming which program in which department

Trump say billions had been wasted with no particulars is more of his grifter "puffery"

I guess you missed the press conference when documents of fraud were produced.

3 minutes ago, kimothai said:

I guess you missed the press conference when documents of fraud were produced.

No documents, just lip service. Or do you have a link to this that the rest of the world is unaware of?

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

No documents, just lip service. Or do you have a link to this that the rest of the world is unaware of?

Obviously, you missed it.  The Press Secretary was holding them up and showing them to the press.

1 minute ago, kimothai said:

Obviously, you missed it.  The Press Secretary was holding them up and showing them to the press.

No, obviously YOU missed it. Holding up a bunch of papers is what they do to distract from their lies. No link, they didn't happen.

Locking and loading...

Was it not Trump who got fined $2 million for misusing charity funds?

5 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

No, obviously YOU missed it. Holding up a bunch of papers is what they do to distract from their lies. No link, they didn't happen.

Watched it live on FOX.  It did happen.  Go back to watching CNN

12 minutes ago, kimothai said:

Watched it live on FOX.  It did happen.  Go back to watching CNN

Using FOX as a reference for truth?!?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Too late for any other silly ideas, farmers blame Trump. Trump let them down his own MAGA supporters. 
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/us-farmers-trump-let-them-160546286.html

You a ignoring the original claim, what food aid is going to spoil.

 

You know none of your media artciles have any credibility since the DOGE exposure of them all getting paid from Usaid.

6 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Using FOX as a reference for truth?!?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I know you liberals have this extreme sense of entitlement and you are too lazy to get up off the sofa or bar stool and do your own research.  Maybe you get your truth from Whoopie or the Morning Joe or even worse, CNN, which would explain your sad state of knowledge.  I took the liberty to take 30 seconds to Google for a link which you seem incapable of doing.  Here's your link:

 

 

23 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Using FOX as a reference for truth?!?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

You believe CNN. hahahaahaha!!