State Department

An unnamed USAID official receives an angry late-night phone call from Peter Marocco, the newly appointed Director of Foreign Assistance at the US State Department, accusing employees of trying to subvert the President’s executive order imposing a 90-day pause on all foreign aid.

The State Department issues a memo written by Peter Marocco and signed by Marco Rubio that not only puts a halt to future foreign aid but also insists on stop-work orders for ~6200 current grants and contracts at USAID.

Edward Coristine and Luke Farritor are posted to the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces plans for a major reorganization of the State Department that would eliminate 132 offices and terminate roughly 700 positions in DC. It also would reduce monitoring of war crimes and global conflicts.

Jeremy Lewin signs off on an award to a Trump-backed aid group in Gaza, despite objections that the group failed to meet “minimum technical or budgetary standards” and waived mandatory counter-terrorism and fraud safeguards. The funding request was made by Kenneth Jackson, who ignored 58 objections raised by former USAID staff.

The State Department lays off more than 1300 people – many specializing in violent extremism, refugee resettlement and women’s rights – as part of a sweeping reorganization announced by Marco Rubio on April 22. The terminated staff will be placed on a 120-day administrative leave period before formally losing their jobs.