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Podcast: Fault Lines
Episode: Episode 439: Burn It Down—Marocco’s Exit and the Future of U.S. Foreign Aid
Description: 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 Ma...