Fired employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were applauded by demonstrators outside the agency’s Washington, D.C. office as they left for the last time. Pete Marocco, a Trump administration official known for dismantling USAID, has left the State Department. The administration has fired nearly all USAID staff, citing wasteful spending as the reason. Marocco conducted a review of foreign assistance spending and exposed abuses of taxpayer dollars, according to a senior administration official. Sources suggest that Marocco may have been pushed out of his position as director of foreign assistance, but no further explanation was provided.
Marocco held a “listening session” at the State Department to discuss the future of foreign assistance before his departure. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz criticized Marocco’s tenure, accusing him of bringing chaos to USAID and dismantling longstanding U.S. foreign policy. Trump has made unfounded claims about fraud at USAID and labeled it as a “criminal” organization.
Despite the cuts to foreign aid, Trump’s administration recently reinstated six U.S. foreign aid programs for emergency food assistance. This rapid reversal highlights the chaotic nature of Trump’s decisions regarding foreign aid, leading to disruptions in international humanitarian operations. The impact of Marocco’s departure and the administration’s handling of foreign aid remain uncertain.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
