In a major shakeup at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), two senior security officials have been placed on administrative leave, the latest in a series of upheavals at the key humanitarian aid agency. The move comes as the Trump administration considers dramatic reforms to the organization, with the president himself labeling USAID leadership as “radical lunatics.”
According to sources, USAID Director for Security John Vorhees and Deputy Director Brian McGill were suspended after refusing to allow personnel from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access classified materials. This development underscores the growing tensions within the agency as the administration seeks to overhaul its operations.
Vice President JD Vance has been tasked with overseeing the reform process, while former Pentagon official Pete Marocco leads the restructuring efforts from the State Department’s Foreign Assistance Office. One option being considered is folding USAID into the State Department under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio.
The Trump administration has already implemented a 90-day freeze on almost all foreign aid programs, triggering widespread disruption in global humanitarian assistance. Aid organizations have reported critical challenges, including the expiration of life-saving medications and the rotting of food aid in warehouses.
Newspot Nigeria has learned that the administration’s actions have particularly impacted initiatives in Latin America aimed at reducing illegal migration to the United States. Thirteen organizations across El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala, which were working on job creation and crime prevention programs, have seen their operations severely disrupted.
Further concerns have been raised over the fate of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has received a limited waiver to resume certain operations. However, former aid officials have expressed worries about the broader scope of global health programs, including those targeting malaria and tuberculosis.
“This is not a pause, it is a demolition,” Atul Gawande, former USAID Global Health Director, told CBS News. “You cannot pause a flight in midair, that’s what they’re trying to do.”
As the Trump administration navigates the USAID overhaul, the humanitarian and geopolitical implications remain significant. The disruption of long-standing relationships and programs could undermine America’s investments in global stability and human dignity, according to aid organizations.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as the situation unfolds.
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