Internal State Dept memo reveals top brass question if feds should be ‘in the business of philanthropy’
Top officials at the Department of State are questioning the government’s role in philanthropy as the Trump administration uncovers mismanagement and overspending in foreign assistance programs. The director of the Office of Foreign Assistance, Pete Marocco, raised the question of whether it is appropriate for the government to be involved in philanthropy during a meeting with faith-based organizations.
Marocco highlighted the importance of ensuring that foreign assistance reaches the right people for the right reasons, noting that only 10% of aid may be reaching its intended target. He emphasized the need for a critical evaluation of the government’s role in philanthropy and the effectiveness of its foreign aid programs.
The meeting, which was moderated by Albert T. Gombis, acting under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, aimed to engage faith-based organizations in a discussion about how their work aligns with U.S. foreign assistance goals under the America First framework.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Chair, Elon Musk, has been leading efforts to address reported overspending and mismanagement at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Musk has been critical of USAID, characterizing it as a “viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America.”
President Trump issued a freeze on foreign aid through USAID and has made significant changes to the agency, including appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the acting director. The administration’s actions have faced legal challenges, with the Supreme Court recently ruling against the administration’s request to block a lower court’s order to pay nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds.
Marocco explained that the Trump administration is conducting a review of foreign aid programs and intentionally disrupting the system to identify and address significant problems. He acknowledged that the American people have lost faith in foreign assistance and emphasized the need for effective and transparent aid programs.
During his address to Congress, President Trump celebrated his administration’s freeze on foreign aid and highlighted efforts to identify government waste, including $22 billion across various federal agencies. Democrats and government employees have criticized the administration’s approach to auditing federal programs, with some lawmakers holding up signs reading “Musk lies” during Trump’s speech.
Overall, the Trump administration’s efforts to address mismanagement and overspending in foreign assistance programs have sparked debate about the government’s role in philanthropy and the effectiveness of its aid programs. The ongoing review of foreign aid programs aims to ensure that aid reaches the right people and achieves its intended goals.
