The new U.S. administration is just a week old, but it’s already making waves by targeting some beloved institutions. One of the latest casualties? Lifesaving overseas aid.
Last Friday, Peter Marocco, the newly appointed head of the Office of Foreign Assistance, sent out a memo (see here) announcing an immediate halt on all new spending. The memo also instructed that stop-work orders be issued for existing grants until they undergo a review to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Marocco will be overseeing this review during the 90-day pause period. From 2019 to 2020, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs. A recent article in Politico sheds more light on what he’s been up to since leaving USAID. Don’t forget to check out his early work with USAID. More