At least 56 senior officials in the top U.S. aid and development agency have been placed on leave amid a probe into an alleged effort to thwart President Trump's orders, reports say.

At least 56 senior officials in the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) were placed on leave on Monday amid an investigation into an alleged effort to thwart US President Donald Trump's orders.

According to Politico, at least 56 officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were put on administrative leave with full pay and benefits. Additionally, a current and former official told the Associated Press that several hundred contractors based in Washington and other locations were also laid off.

USDA's Gary Washington and USAID's Jason Gray have been asked to fill vacant leadership roles at their agencies in an acting capacity.

By Daphne Psaledakis, Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration has put on leave about 60 senior career officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),

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.

The tech leaders at USDA and USAID will head their agencies in an acting capacity until the Senate confirms Trump’s nominees for the permanent roles.

A message to USAID staff, obtained by NPR, says it will analyze "actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President's Executive Order" freezing most foreign aid.