Pete Marocco, who played a pivotal role in the reduction of U.S. foreign aid and the restructuring of U.S.A.I.D., has left the State Department as efforts to consolidate the agency continue. His tenure has faced criticism for its impact on international aid programs.
Departure of Pete Marocco Signals Continued Changes at U.S.A.I.D.
Departure of Pete Marocco Signals Continued Changes at U.S.A.I.D.
The recent exit of Pete Marocco from the State Department highlights ongoing transformations within U.S. foreign aid strategies following significant cuts during the Trump administration.
Pete Marocco, formerly acting head of foreign aid at the State Department, has left his position amid significant changes to U.S. foreign aid practices. His departure was confirmed by administration officials and coincides with ongoing efforts to merge the nearly dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) into the department—a process that must be completed by mid-August.
Marocco's tenure has been marked by extensive cuts to U.S.A.I.D., which resulted in the termination of thousands of contracts and the reduction of the workforce, leaving only a small fraction of previous aid operations active. Critics have accused Marocco of mismanaging the agency and undermining its mission to provide essential services globally.
A statement attributed to a senior administration official praised Marocco for investigating alleged "egregious abuses of taxpayer dollars" during his tenure; however, specifics were not shared. His critics, including Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, condemned his actions, asserting they inflicted harm on millions who rely on foreign aid and eroded trust in the United States among global partners. The scrutiny on Marocco and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decisions on foreign aid is expected to persist despite his exit.
