Federal workers spoke to reporters after DOGE fired them. Now they face investigation.

At least half a dozen USAID employees who spoke to reporters after they thought they had been fired by the Trump administration have now received notices from the foreign aid agency's internal human resources office that they are facing investigation for participating in interviews.

The workers, whose formal dismissal date was delayed after leaders encountered bureaucratic snags, received an email in recent days carrying the subject line, "Administrative inquiry." The email accused them of having "engaged with the press/media without authorization" and threatened "disciplinary action" including "removal from the U.S. Agency for International Development." 

The emails were sent by Employment Labor Relations, which is part of the USAID's internal HR structure, and manages most disciplinary and performance complaints.