A top official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been placed on administrative leave following the issuance of a damning memo that accuses Trump political appointees of hindering life-saving humanitarian efforts. The memo, authored by Nicholas Enrich, the acting administrator for global health at USAID, highlights the detrimental impact of political leadership on the agency's ability to carry out critical activities.
Enrich's memo, dated February 28, outlines the various obstacles imposed by political leadership at USAID, the Department of State, and DOGE, which have impeded USAID from implementing waivers for life-saving assistance. These hindrances have led to a failure in executing essential lifesaving activities, potentially resulting in preventable deaths, destabilization, and threats to national security on a significant scale.
The memo specifically points out the actions taken by Trump administration appointees between January 29 and February 28 that have obstructed life-saving work, including the prevention of emergency outbreak response activities necessary to address the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. This contradicts claims made by others that such activities were promptly reinstated after being canceled.
The dispute over the implementation of waivers for critical humanitarian aid has raised concerns about the potential consequences of the ongoing freeze on life-saving initiatives. Despite assertions by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the issuance of waivers to exempt assistance from foreign aid restrictions, Enrich's memo paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by USAID in carrying out its vital mission.
Following the release of the memo, Enrich was placed on administrative leave, according to sources familiar with the matter. The fallout from this internal conflict within USAID underscores the complexities and tensions surrounding humanitarian efforts in the current political landscape.
