According to the Washington Post, CNN, and other outlets, Paul Martin was fired a day after his office released a report that criticized the Trump administration’s attempts to abolish the agency.

They referenced a two-sentence White House email that Martin received on Tuesday informing him that his job was “terminated, effective immediately,” but it did not explain the decision’s rationale.

According to a report from his office, the Trump administration’s implementation of an aid freeze and stop-work order put more than $489 million in food assistance at risk of spoiling or possible diversion.

“Identified significant challenges and offered recommendations to improve Agency programming to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse,” the report acknowledged.

However, USAID’s capacity to disburse and protect taxpayer-funded humanitarian aid has been weakened by recent, extensive staffing cuts throughout the Agency, as well as confusion around the extent of foreign assistance exemptions and acceptable interactions with implementers.

Martin, who was chosen by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, had stayed in his position despite Trump having already dismissed 18 inspectors general, who are independent watchdogs of the federal government.

Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and Trump’s top donor, has spearheaded a campaign to reduce or dismantle large portions of the US government since he started his second term last month.

With health and emergency programs in about 120 countries, USAID is the main agency responsible for distributing US humanitarian aid globally. This organization has been the target of the most intense fire.

The $42.8 billion budget that USAID oversees accounts for 42% of all humanitarian aid that is distributed globally.

It was regarded as an essential source of soft power for the US in its conflict with China and other rivals.

The Trump administration has frozen foreign aid, ordered thousands of internationally based staff to return to the United States, and begun slashing the USAID headcount of 10,000 employees to around only 300.

Labor unions are challenging the legality of the onslaught. A federal judge ordered a delay on Friday to the administration’s plan to put 2,200 USAID personnel on paid leave by the weekend.

Democrats say it would be unconstitutional for Trump to shut down government agencies without the legislature’s approval.