Trump administration puts about 60 USAid officials on leave after aid freeze

Memo said some actions in agency appeared to be designed to circumvent' Trump's orders and America First' policy

The Trump administration has put on leave about 60 senior career officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAid) workers, sources familiar with the matter said, after Washington put a sweeping freeze on US aid worldwide.

The administration on Saturday urged the USAid staff to join the effort to transform how Washington allocates aid around the world in line with Trump's America First" policy. It also threatened disciplinary action" for any staff ignoring the administration's orders.