DOGE Official Named Deputy Administrator at USAID \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A senior official from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Jeremy Lewin, has been appointed to a top leadership role at USAID. The move intensifies DOGE’s presence in the agency it helped dismantle. The appointment comes amid court rulings challenging DOGE’s constitutional authority.
Elon Musk Ally Gains Top Role at USAID — Quick Looks
- Jeremy Lewin from DOGE appointed deputy administrator for policy at USAID.
- Lewin’s appointment deepens DOGE’s influence within foreign aid operations.
- DOGE has overseen major workforce cuts and program terminations at USAID.
- Pete Marocco announced the change in an internal email to State Department staff.
- Marocco now serves as the State Department’s director of foreign assistance.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved Lewin’s appointment, effective immediately.
- Federal judge recently blocked DOGE from further cuts, citing constitutional concerns.
- The lawsuit argued Musk and DOGE overstepped authority by dismantling USAID functions.
- Tom Krause, another DOGE associate, was previously placed at the Treasury Department.
- Kenneth Jackson named chief financial officer for USAID and acting head of U.S. Institute for Peace.
Deep Look
In a move solidifying the influence of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over foreign aid operations, senior DOGE official Jeremy Lewin has been appointed to a top leadership position at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). According to an internal email obtained by The Associated Press, Lewin will now serve as USAID’s deputy administrator for policy and programs and as its chief operating officer.
Lewin’s appointment marks the second time a high-ranking DOGE official has been embedded within a federal agency under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the continued integration of Musk’s government-shrinking initiative into the upper ranks of public institutions. DOGE has been widely credited — and criticized — for orchestrating sweeping cuts to federal agencies, including the dismantling of more than 80% of USAID’s contracts and operations.
The internal announcement came from Pete Marocco, a political appointee and former deputy head of USAID, who himself has now been appointed director of foreign assistance at the State Department. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed Marocco’s new position on Wednesday, describing it as “an indispensable role in aligning all U.S. government foreign assistance with the president’s priorities.”
Marocco’s email revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Lewin to his new post “effective immediately.” The timing of Lewin’s promotion coincides with active discussions among State Department and USAID officials regarding which foreign aid programs should be saved or restructured, as the Trump administration continues its push to phase out much of the country’s humanitarian and development work.
The appointment comes amid serious legal challenges to DOGE’s activities. On the same day Marocco’s announcement was sent, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland issued a ruling blocking DOGE from making further cuts at USAID. The court found that Musk and his team likely lacked constitutional authority to direct government shutdowns, fire federal employees, and terminate long-standing humanitarian contracts.
The lawsuit, filed by USAID employees and contractors, alleged that DOGE and Musk were wielding powers reserved for elected officials or Senate-confirmed appointees. Their attorneys argued that the actions taken by DOGE to gut USAID’s structure and funding violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. In response to the ruling, legal experts say this effectively halts or reverses many of DOGE’s actions to date, though it leaves room for designated agency officials, like Lewin, to act within legal limits.
The court’s decision, however, does not appear to have slowed the administration’s efforts to formalize DOGE’s role in federal governance. In February, the Treasury Department appointed Tom Krause — another Musk associate from DOGE — to perform the functions of an assistant secretary. That appointment triggered alarm among lawmakers, particularly Democrats, over DOGE’s access to the Treasury’s financial systems.
Additionally, this week’s leadership changes include the appointment of Kenneth Jackson as administrator for management and resources at USAID, who will also serve as the agency’s chief financial officer. Jackson was also recently named acting president of the U.S. Institute for Peace, a federally funded think tank dedicated to promoting conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives worldwide.
The growing presence of DOGE officials in top-level government roles underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to Musk’s mission of drastically reducing the size and scope of the federal government. Musk, known for his high-profile business ventures and now an increasingly influential political player, has faced significant backlash over what critics describe as a “chainsaw” approach to federal workforce reductions and program terminations.
Supporters of Musk’s approach argue that these moves are necessary to root out inefficiency and waste within bloated government agencies. Opponents, however, caution that such sweeping cuts threaten vital services, disrupt U.S. foreign policy goals, and undermine America’s leadership in humanitarian aid and development.
USAID, once considered a flagship institution in delivering global aid, has been hit particularly hard. Under DOGE’s direction, 83% of its contracts were terminated, and the remaining programs have largely been transferred under the control of the State Department.
Legal experts are now closely watching whether newly installed leaders like Lewin will continue these efforts without running afoul of the constitutional limits outlined in Judge Chuang’s ruling. The court’s decision has added a new layer of scrutiny to the administration’s restructuring efforts, though it appears that the White House remains committed to embedding Musk’s appointees in key government positions.
As the debate intensifies, foreign policy experts warn that continued dismantling of USAID could leave lasting gaps in America’s global influence and its ability to respond to humanitarian crises.
DOGE Official Named DOGE Official Named
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