U.S. AID programs have been canceled in 83 percent of cases, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Attempts to close the agency were deemed probably unconstitutional by a federal judge.
In an email sent on Tuesday evening, Pete Marocco, the State Department official in charge of the Trump administration’s attempts to demolish the primary government organization responsible for disbursing foreign aid, said that two officials who had contributed to the cuts will take his position at the agency.
U.S. AID – In the email, Mr. Marocco stated that two other officials would manage the remaining U.S. AID – Agency for International Development while he would continue to serve as the State Department’s director of foreign development.
These people include State Department official Kenneth Jackson, who this week was appointed acting president of the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Jeremy Lewin, who has been serving on the cost-cutting task team headed by billionaire Elon Musk.
Mr. Lewin will serve as the chief operating officer and deputy administrator for policy and programs for the aid organization. In addition to being its chief financial officer, Mr. Jackson will be the deputy administrator for management and resources.
The email, a copy of which was viewed by The New York Times and a number of recipients, stated that the adjustments took effect immediately. A request for comment was not immediately answered by a State Department spokesperson.
U.S. AID – As Mr. Musk’s team attempted to shut down the agency, Mr. Marocco’s turbulent stint at U.S.A.I.D. was characterized by severe downsizing. 83 percent of the agency’s programs have been discontinued, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement last week.
A team of about 10,000 has been reduced to a skeleton crew.
A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the attempts to close U.S.A.I.D. were probably unlawful.
However, the practical impact of replacing the guard can be minimal. Mr. Rubio and other State Department officials have indicated that they plan to transfer U.S.A.I.D. projects that make it past the administration’s assessment to the State Department, where Mr. Marocco, as the head of foreign aid, is expected to have a major say in how they are managed.
According to an internal planning paper seen by The Times, the State Department intends to eliminate U.S.A.I.D.’s position as an autonomous agency and reorganize it as the U.S.
Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance. Changes made to U.S.A.I.D. by the Trump administration would require congressional approval due to the agency’s establishment.
According to the document, if the proposed changes are implemented, the Trump administration plans to appoint the head of the renamed organization as the government’s special coordinator for disaster help abroad.
According to those briefed on the administration’s intentions, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss methods still in development, U.S.A.I.D. is expected to undergo a dramatic restructure wherever it ends up being headquartered.
The people stated that at least certain programs that concentrate on providing life-saving aid, like medicine, and some that concentrate on national security are probably going to be kept in place. However, the majority of development assistance has already been canceled.
Additionally, Joel Borkert, who has been acting as the chief of staff for U.S.A.I.D., will take over the position permanently, according to Mr. Marocco’s email. His subordinate would be Marcus Thornton.
After serving in the Army, Mr. Borkert had a number of posts at the State Department under Presidents Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr., including those in crisis management, peacekeeping, and hostage-operations departments.
Due to his anti-vaccine advocacy, Mr. Thornton, a diplomat, had disagreements with high-ranking officials in the Biden administration.
When he co-founded Feds for Freedom, an organization that opposed obligatory Covid-19 immunizations and backed Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s plan to restructure the federal government, he rose to prominence in conservative circles.