Today, Les, Martha, and Jess unpack the surprise departure of Pete Marocco, Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance, the architect behind the Trump administration’s dismantling of U.S. foreign assistance. In less than three months, USAID has been effectively gutted, with over 6,000 programs under review and thousands of jobs in the U.S. and abroad at risk. Marocco’s approach—mirroring Elon Musk’s soon-ending stint at DOGE—has thrown American aid policy into turmoil just as China deepens its influence in key developing regions and Congress begins to push back on the administration’s agenda.

Was Marocco’s removal part of a broader shift—or just the end of a mission to dismantle American aid? Who’s actually calling the shots now, and could this signal a shift to a more measured approach to foreign assistance? And as U.S. credibility erodes abroad, will rivals like China turn this moment of disarray into a permanent strategic advantage?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out these sources which helped shape our Fellows’ conversation: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/13/pete-marocco-usaid/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-appointed-official-who-oversaw-dismantling-of-usaid-leaves-state-department/ar-AA1CRgrp?ocid=BingNewsVerp

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-official-who-oversaw-closure-of-usaid-has-left-state-department-5760da3d

Follow our experts on Twitter: 

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

@marthamillerdc

Like what we're doing here? 

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 

And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/C_aBds84CoI 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.