Trump-appointed official, who oversaw dismantling of USAid, leaves State Department
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As recently as April 9, Mr Pete Marocco held a “listening session” at the State Department to discuss the future of foreign assistance.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - Mr Pete Marocco, the Trump administration official who played a major role in dismantling the US Agency for International Development (USAid), has left the State Department, a US official said on April 12.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to fire nearly all USAid staff, as billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has slashed funding and dismissed contractors across the federal bureaucracy in what it calls an attack on wasteful spending.
“Pete was brought to State with a big mission – to conduct an exhaustive review of every dollar spent on foreign assistance. He conducted that historic task and exposed egregious abuses of taxpayer dollars,” a senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“We all expect big things are in store for Pete on his next mission,” the official added.
Sources told Reuters that Mr Marocco, who was the director of foreign assistance at the State Department, may have been pushed out, but they declined to give further explanation.
As recently as April 9, he held a “listening session” at the State Department with nearly two dozen experts to discuss the future of foreign assistance and seek input, according to a source familiar with the event and an invitation to the session seen by Reuters.
When he returned to the State Department less than a month ago, he said in an internal e-mail that “I am going to return to my post as the director of fForeign assistance to bring value back to the American people”.
Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, of Hawaii, said in a statement: “Marocco’s tenure brought chaos to USAid, reckless and unlawful policy to the State Department, and dismantled longstanding US foreign policy.
“His actions deprived millions of people around the world of life-saving aid and jeopardised US credibility with our partners. But with his exit, serious questions still remain about the influence he leaves behind.”
Mr Trump has claimed without evidence that USAid was rife with fraud and run by “radical left lunatics”, while Mr Musk falsely accused it of being a “criminal” organisation.
Mr Trump’s administration on April 8 moved to reinstate at least six recently cancelled US foreign aid programmes for emergency food assistance.
The quick reversal of decisions made just days ago underscored the rapid-fire nature of Mr Trump’s cuts to foreign aid.
That has led to programmes being cut, restored then cut again, disrupting international humanitarian operations. REUTERS
