Arriv-AID-erci, Pete Is the dust settling on the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it demolition of USAID? We’re still wading into uncharted territory, but yesterday we found out that Peter Marocco, the controversial point person for USAID’s dismantling, is leaving as acting deputy administrator of the agency. Stepping into the mix will be a point person <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POuwUntCJyWtX0x45LW5PJnOLKBFawaf946PXuy4uTGJTwAqQnIbYVcSsz2s-cQqkX7a4HCNJhh4b_Rrx5Yr40VwZ0QDOhMU92tItbi5IrO15LcRTjCdCT38dxCVxb_iByQMef4WF562LJqBmhe8iE2sQ3DwzC9a9d9F2VavMiHJz9iFtuyVmI2pYS3Kx2bJ0_DMxcuucTdXhnOe2st9Gq24mGfcsnbZrBZPMkHs0a-xb/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZUjNa6cve5_COxhXXcqzAa7cbElUwsSmIxKCmk6J-oUm5_B6qH3ip1bcILNhnIVF-wcirujo=> from the equally controversial Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
In an email sent on Tuesday, Marocco wrote that *DOGE staffer Jeremy Lewin was now USAID’s deputy administrator* for policy and programs, as well as the agency’s chief operating officer. Last month, journalists at The Handbasket <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZUjNa6I8eFP2RBHXiyQFL3U0GUSkgvsAXN510RsH3lDdCHcoTpWNVY-1SYXhQZk096Qlgyrk=> found out that Lewin had, until recently, worked at the same law firm that employed Usha Vance, the second lady of the United States. Marocco also announced that *Kenneth Jackson*, a recent political appointee at USAID <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZUjNa51GcGouspPSWTQ1td2WkG2PedtPUkhtOM-Q-MAg0VlKIf-8_YukWweuvG-CD3HBTUFM=>, would be the agency’s deputy administrator for management and resources as well as its chief financial officer, my colleague Elissa Miolene writes. As for *Marocco, he’s returning to his original position* as director of the Office of Foreign Assistance at the U.S. State Department <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZUjNa6F3uElDjIfQL8a2vGJcRzB9od1flXh05K7hmn_JApbb0HArAoBXcX2OJMKwm9aIB4HI=>, a role that could continue to give him clout to influence the reconfiguration of USAID. In his missive, Marocco noted that “Phase III of the foreign assistance review is officially underway. We will dive deeper into the analysis portion of the review to give Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio our recommendations.” He also *took a jab at the agency he overhauled*: “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,” he wrote. “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.” *Read:* Peter Marocco departs USAID, remains at State Department <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POuwUntCJyWtX0x45LW5PJnOLKBFawaf946PXuy4uTGJTwAqQnIbYVcSsz2s-cQqkX7a4HCNJhh4b_Rrx5Yr40VwZ0QDOhMU92tItbi5IrO15LcRTjCdCT38dxCVxb_iByQMef4WF562LJqBmhe8iE2sQ3DwzC9a9d9F2VavMiHJz9iFtuyVmI2pYS3Kx2bJ0_DMxcuucTdXhnOe2st9Gq24WISmeqf3RcBcVqSRwaGXd/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZUjNa6cve5_COxhXXcqzAa7cbElUwsSmIxKCmk6J-oUm5_B6qH3ip1bcILNhnIVF-wcirujo=>
