Oops..Musk forgot to get rid of USAID Inspector General. Damning report released today. [View all]

[Nevilledog]

https://oig.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2025-02/USAID%20OIG%20-%20Oversight%20of%20USAID-Funded%20Humanitarian%20Assistance%20Programming%20021025.pdf

Introduction

The United States Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID
OIG), through its investigations and audits, conducts independent oversight of USAID’s
programs and personnel. Our oversight work includes reviews of the Agency’s controls over its
humanitarian assistance funding. For example, in July 2024, we published a report identifying
shortcomings and vulnerabilities in USAID’s oversight mechanisms to prevent diversion of aid
to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations in Gaza. Similarly, in late January 2025, we issued a
memorandum highlighting challenges and potential “fixes” to ensure enhanced accountability of
foreign assistance funding, including humanitarian assistance programs funded by USAID but
implemented by United Nations agencies.

In this alert, we identify risks and challenges to the safeguarding and distribution of USAID’s
$8.2 billion in obligated but undisbursed humanitarian assistance funds following (1) the
Department of State’s pause on foreign assistance programs and (2) subsequent personnel
actions by USAID that have substantially reduced the operational capacity of its Bureau of
Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).

Background

On January 24, 2025, the Secretary of State ordered a pause in all new obligations of foreign
assistance funding pending an 85-day review of United States foreign assistance programs.1 The
Secretary additionally ordered contracting and grant officers to issue stop-work orders for all
existing foreign assistance awards.2 As such, all USAID programs were suspended, including
those with funds already obligated and disbursed.3

The Secretary’s January 24 order contained an initial waiver for “emergency food assistance.”
Four days later, the Secretary issued a waiver for disbursements under existing “lifesaving
humanitarian assistance” programs, defined as “life-saving medicine, medical services, food,
shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as
necessary.” USAID guidance on implementation of the pause and subsequent waivers also
included a directive for staff to refrain from external communications outside of
“communications necessary to implement the pause.”4 Moreover, Agency officials’ plans to
place more than 90 percent of the USAID workforce on paid administrative leave effective
February 9 were paused for at least a week by a court order issued on February 7.5

*snip*