US President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired US Agency for International Development Inspector General Paul Martin a day after the agency released a report criticizing the Trump administration, the NBC News broadcaster reported, citing an obtained letter.
"On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development is terminated, effective immediately," the letter sent to Martin by Office of Presidential Personnel Deputy Director Trent Morse read.
Trump decided to fire the USAID chief after the agency published a report that listed negative consequences of actions taken by the president and his administration against the agency itself, the broadcaster said.
The Monday report described risks caused by staff shortages that may lead to a lack of oversight, making USAID "susceptible to inadvertently funding entities or salaries of individuals associated with US-designated terrorist organizations."
US billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who leads the consultative Department of Government Efficiency, has said that Trump had agreed to shut down USAID. Musk also referred to the agency as a "criminal organization" that "needs to die."
Meanwhile, USAID employees worldwide have been put on administrative leave.