ELLEN KNICKMEYER

Foreign policy reporter

Knickmeyer covers foreign policy and national security for The Associated Press. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The Trump administration is putting USAID staffers on leave worldwide and firing at least 1,600
 
Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Judge clears way for Trump administration to pull thousands of USAID staffers off the job
 
Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Trump administration is flouting an order to temporarily lift a freeze on foreign aid, judge says
 
President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Pool via AP)
Trump administration labels 8 Latin American cartels as ‘foreign terrorist organizations’
 
Dr Brian Diers, associate director of the Soybean Innovation Lab, waters soybean plants in the growing chamber, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)
The USAID shutdown is upending livelihoods for nonprofit workers, farmers and other Americans
 
The American flag flying alone beside an empty flagpole that previously had the flag of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, are pictured in the reflection of a window that previously had the sign and the seal of USAID, outside the agency's headquarters in Washington, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Judge sets a 5-day deadline for the Trump administration to start lifting its USAID funding freeze
 
A bouquet of white flowers placed outside the headquarters of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is pictured, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Judge orders Trump administration to temporarily allow funds for foreign aid to flow again
 
Priya Kathpal, right, and Taylor Williamson, left, who work for a company doing contract work for the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, carry signs outside the USAID headquarters in Washington, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
USAID staffers describe colleagues abandoned in violence in Congo as DOGE ends assistance programs
 
Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
White House fires USAID inspector general after warning about funding oversight, officials say
 
Priya Kathpal, right, and Taylor Williamson, who work for a company doing contract work for the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, carry signs outside the USAID headquarters in Washington, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Unspent aid worth billions lacks oversight as Trump dismantles USAID, watchdog warns
 
The American flag flying alone beside an empty flagpole that previously had the flag of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, are pictured in the reflection of a window that previously had the sign and the seal of USAID, outside the agency's headquarters in Washington, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Judge blocks Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on leave and giving them 30-day deadline
 
Demonstrators and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk as they disrupt the federal government, including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, which administers foreign aid approved by Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Trump administration plans to slash all but a fraction of USAID jobs, officials say
 
In this photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, flags fly at half-staff at Camp Justice, Aug. 29, 2021, in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Newly unsealed documents reveal more details of prosecutors’ evidence in 9/11 attacks
 
Demonstrators and lawmakers rally against President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk as they disrupt the federal government, including dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, which administers foreign aid approved by Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Trump’s demand that US aid workers return home sparks outrage in Washington and anxiety overseas
 
Solar panels system funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are seen in the Lebanese-Syrian border town of Majdal Anjar, eastern Bekaa valley, Lebanon, Nov. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File)
Trump’s administration is pulling almost all USAID workers off the job worldwide
 
The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is pictured Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
What USAID does, and why Trump and Musk want to get rid of it
 
The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is pictured Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Trump and Musk move to dismantle USAID, igniting battle with Democratic lawmakers
 
USAID humanitarian aid destined for Venezuela is displayed for the media at a warehouse next to the Tienditas International Bridge on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)
Elon Musk says President Donald Trump has ‘agreed’ USAID should be shut down
 
A man walks past boxes of USAID humanitarian aid at a warehouse at the Tienditas International Bridge on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, Feb. 21, 2019, on the border with Venezuela. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
USAID website goes offline in Trump administration’s 2-week-old freeze on foreign aid worldwide
 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance in the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US aid agency is in upheaval during foreign assistance freeze and staff departures
 
Solar panels system funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are seen in the Lebanese-Syrian border town of Majdal Anjar, eastern Bekaa valley, Lebanon, Nov. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File)
A US shutdown on foreign aid is hitting worldwide. Rubio adds more exemptions
 
USAID humanitarian aid destined for Venezuela is displayed for the media at a warehouse next to the Tienditas International Bridge on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)
US places dozens of senior aid officials on leave, citing possible resistance to Trump orders
 
Giorgi Iukuridze, owner and CEO Shabo, a Ukrainian winery, left, and Sam Lerman, CEO of SPYRT Worldwide, introduce Ukrainian wine to the owner of Wine Styles Arthur Lampros, right, at Wine Styles, Dec. 20, 2024 in Dumfries, Va. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Ukrainian winemaker and US veterans team up to show the best of Ukraine, a glass at a time
 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks after being sworn in by Vice President JD Vance in the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
State Department freezes new funding for nearly all US aid programs worldwide
 
President Joe Biden, center, with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Sec. of State Anthony Blinken, right, speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House on the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Trump and Biden both claim credit for Gaza ceasefire deal
 
This Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 courtroom drawing by artist Janet Hamlin and reviewed by the U.S. military, shows Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, center, and co-defendant Walid Bin Attash, left, attending a pre-trial session at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. (AP Photo/Janet Hamlin, Pool, File)
The Biden administration succeeds in temporarily blocking a plea deal for accused 9/11 mastermind
 
In this photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, flags fly at half-staff at Camp Justice, Aug. 29, 2021, in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Guantanamo’s prisoners have reached a pivotal moment. So has the 9/11 case. Here’s what to know
 
This Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 courtroom drawing by artist Janet Hamlin and reviewed by the U.S. military, shows Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, center, and co-defendant Walid Bin Attash, left, attending a pre-trial session at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. (AP Photo/Janet Hamlin, Pool, File)
Biden administration asks court to block plea deal for alleged mastermind of 9/11 attacks
 
Ibrahim Almadi holds a photo of his father Saad Almadi graduating from college in 1984, in Washington Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. Saad Almadi, a dual U.S.-Saudi citizen was jailed for social media posts critical of the kingdom's crown prince. He was released from a Saudi prison in March 2023 and banned from returning to his home in south Florida. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Saudi Arabia presses Florida man to give up US citizenship over critical tweets, family says
 
In this April 17, 2019, photo, reviewed by U.S. military officials, the control tower is seen through the razor wire inside the Camp VI detention facility in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The U.S. has repatriated a Kenya man held for 17 years without charge at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The move leaves 15 other men still waiting for release from Guantanamo after being cleared of wrongdoing after long detentions. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
US transfers 11 Guantanamo detainees to Oman after more than two decades without charge
 
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