Pete Marocco's tenure at the United States Agency for International Development comes to an abrupt end following a controversial restructuring effort.
According to ABC News, Marocco, who spearheaded the widespread dismantling of USAID, announced his departure on Tuesday night through an email to State Department staff, declaring his return to his previous position as Director of Foreign Assistance.
The move follows a court ruling that deemed the administration's efforts to dismantle USAID unconstitutional, dealing a significant blow to the Trump administration's plans to drastically reduce the agency's operations and influence.
Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio's direction, Marocco assumed the role of USAID deputy administrator in early February. Working alongside Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, he initiated sweeping changes that included massive employee layoffs and the termination of funding for more than 80% of the agency's programs.
The transformation also involved abandoning the agency's Washington, D.C. headquarters, signaling a dramatic shift in USAID's operational capacity. These actions prompted immediate legal challenges from various stakeholders concerned about the impact on global humanitarian efforts.
Critics argue that the dismantling efforts would severely diminish American influence abroad and negatively affect vulnerable populations who depend on U.S. aid for basic necessities like healthcare and food security.
Following Marocco's departure, the State Department confirmed that two political appointees would take over the deputy administrator responsibilities. Jeremy Lewin, 28, will serve as USAID COO and Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programs, while Ken Jackson will assume the role of USAID CFO and Deputy Administrator for Management and Resources.
Lewin's appointment has raised eyebrows due to his limited government experience. Despite graduating from Harvard Law School in 2022 and co-authoring opinion pieces with constitutional law expert Laurence Tribe, his primary professional experience comes from a brief stint at a Los Angeles law firm.
His law firm biography claimed extensive experience advising high-level global policymakers, including the U.S. President, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and senior members of the G7 and UN. However, these claims remain unverified.
In his farewell message to staff, Marocco defended his actions at USAID, stating:
It's been my honor to assist Secretary Rubio in his leadership of USAID through some difficult stages to pivot this enterprise away from its abuses of the past. Now that USAID is under control, accountable and stable, I am going to return to my post as the Director of Foreign Assistance to bring value back to the American people.
Later, in an official statement released through the State Department, he added:
The crisis-level issues that had plagued USAID were far worse than we anticipated. It has been an honor and a privilege to help restore accountability and transparency at USAID.
Pete Marocco's exit from USAID marks a significant moment in the agency's ongoing transformation under the Trump administration. His departure as deputy administrator comes amid legal challenges to the agency's dismantling, with a judge recently declaring the restructuring efforts unconstitutional.
The leadership transition to Jeremy Lewin and Ken Jackson, along with Marocco's return to his previous role as Director of Foreign Assistance, raises questions about the future direction of American foreign aid and its impact on global humanitarian assistance.
