A dramatic purge and counter-purge at USAID played out in emails obtained by The Washington Post, as Trump’s pause on foreign aid upends humanitarian work around the world.

On Monday, top officials at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were put on leave for allegedly not abiding by President Trump's executive order to freeze much of U.S. foreign aid.

Approximately 60 senior staff within USAID have been suspended, leaving the agency without clear leadership, five sources familiar with the internal action told CBS News.

The move, detailed in emails obtained by The Post, comes as the Trump administration seeks to radically reorient the U.S. relationship with foreign assistance.

At least 56 senior USAID officials have been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into resistance to President Donald Trump's order to pause all U.S. foreign aid.

At least 56 senior officials in the top U.S. aid and development agency were placed on leave amid an investigation into an alleged effort to thwart President Donald Trump’s agenda.

The news affects roughly 60 senior USAID employees or nearly every staffer who holds a top position at the agency.