The Trump administration has placed 60 senior officials of the United States development agency, USAID, on leave. The order to send them on leave was issued on Monday.
According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the decision was made by the Trump administration after the announcement of the suspension of USAID assistance to almost all countries around the world.
Earlier, last Saturday, the Trump administration issued a directive to USAID employees, asking for their help on how USAID’s global assistance activities could be changed to implement the America First policy. At the same time, it was warned that appropriate action would be taken against anyone who disobeyed this directive.
Then, on Monday evening, 60 senior USAID officials were ordered to be put on leave.
In this regard, USAID Acting Administrator Jason Gray said, ‘Several officials were sent on leave with full pay immediately after receiving the government’s directive. They will also enjoy other benefits until further notice.’
On January 24, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, ‘US assistance to all countries around the world except Egypt and Israel has been suspended. “The foreign aid issue will be reviewed within the next 85 days and the government will then make a new decision on this matter.”
During the election campaign, Trump said that he would adopt an ‘America First’ policy if he came to power. After that, after being sworn in as president on January 20, he began implementing his America First policy.
