Dozens of federal officials, mostly top staff members at the U.S. Agency for International Development, have been suspended for trying to interfere with President Donald Trump's freeze on foreign aid.

The workers, estimated to total 57, were placed on leave on Monday for "trying to circumvent his executive order on freezing all foreign aid," according to a report in the Daily Mail.

They are "career government officials."

"We have identified several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the president's executive orders and the mandate from the American people," explained Jason Gray, now the new acting administrator of the agency.

"As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice."

The president had on January 24 ordered that U.S. AID, and the State department, "shall no provide foreign assistance" until reviews of the nation's cash handouts were completed, except for help to Israel and Egypt – or in cases where "emergency food assistance is needed."