The Daily Populous

Thursday February 13rd, 2025 night edition

image for USAID inspector fired after revealing nearly $500m in food aid was about to spoil amid Trump funding freeze

open image in gallery The inspector general of the U.S. Agency for International Development was terminated on Tuesday - one day after issuing a critical report ( AP ).

open image in gallery Paul Martin was the inspector general of the USAID until he issued a report noting a potential $500 million loss in food aid due to Trump’s freeze ( USAID ).

The administration has attempted to put thousands of workers on administrative leave and remove contractors who assist the agency.

For six decades, USAID has worked to fight starvation, fund education and work to end disease globally.

Lawmakers have lambasted the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the agency, claiming that may only be done by an act of Congress.

The administration is required to provide Congress 30 days' notice before firing an inspector general and provide specific reasons for terminating watchdogs.

Martin was career official having previously served as inspector general for NASA for 14 years and deputy inspector general at the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General for more than 12 years. »

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: Ukraine War ‘Must End,’ NATO Membership Unlikely for Kyiv

Authored by newsx.com
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made it clear that Europe must now take the lead in securing Ukraine.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Wednesday that the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia “must end” and that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is not a realistic outcome.

“The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,” he said. »

8 inspectors general fired by Trump file lawsuit challenging dismissals

Authored by cbsnews.com
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Washington — A group of eight former internal government watchdogs who were fired by President Trump filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging their terminations.

Inspectors general are nonpartisan and are tasked with conducting audits and investigations of the agencies they oversee to protect against waste, fraud and abuse.

Agency employees also arranged for the inspectors general to collect their personal belongings from their offices, the lawsuit states. »

2 rescued after military plane crash into San Diego Bay

Authored by nbcsandiego.com
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A military fighter jet with two service members on board crashed into the San Diego Bay near Shelter Island Wednesday, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue.

"And as they were boarding the pilots on the water, [the captain] observed the plane actually ditch into San Diego Bay.".

A military fighter jet with two service members on board crashed into the San Diego Bay Wednesday, authorities said. »