The Trump administration’s government efficiency revolution just took another bold step. On Monday, Jeremy Lewin, a senior leader at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was elevated to a top post at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), according to a bombshell email obtained by the Associated Press. It’s a move that solidifies Musk’s growing influence inside the federal government—and stirs even more controversy among the Washington establishment.
That, right there, is why Hunter Biden was worth the $50,000/month.
— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) April 28, 2025
Lewin, a key figure in DOGE’s dramatic push to shrink government and slash bloated contracts, now becomes deputy administrator for policy and programs at USAID as well as chief operating officer. His appointment follows that of Tom Krause, another DOGE operative installed earlier this year at the Treasury Department, showing that Musk’s once-outsider team is now firmly entrenched inside federal power centers.
The reshuffling comes as Pete Marocco, the former deputy head of USAID and a close Trump ally, transitions to a powerful new role as the State Department’s director of foreign assistance. Marocco made the announcement Tuesday in a memo to staff, making it clear that the White House’s priorities are now dictating every dollar spent abroad.
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) April 28, 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the appointments, praising the move as “indispensable” to aligning foreign aid with President Trump’s America First agenda.
Yet, the DOGE-driven overhaul isn’t without hurdles. On the same day Lewin’s new role was announced, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ruled that Musk and DOGE likely lacked the constitutional authority to fire USAID employees, terminate contracts, and close programs without Senate confirmation. His ruling blocks DOGE from making any more cuts, handing a legal victory to disgruntled USAID staffers and contractors who had filed suit, arguing that Musk’s team was operating outside legal bounds.
My recent focus on Hunter Biden isn’t about him per se. His emails provide a rare window into how influence operates within the NGO world, and as a board member of USGLC, he had an extraordinary amount of influence.
Once I finish my current university project, hopefully today or…
— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) April 28, 2025
Importantly, the judge’s ruling targets DOGE specifically—not USAID officials who are legally appointed. That distinction leaves a narrow path for the administration to continue its reforms, but under stricter legal supervision.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Jackson, another Trump appointee, was tapped by Rubio to become administrator for management and resources at USAID—and was simultaneously named acting president of the U.S. Institute for Peace, signaling an aggressive consolidation of control across multiple government sectors.
Oh, yes, Liz Schrayer / USGLC asked Hunter Biden of all people to be a co-host at a fundraiser for Lindsay Graham! https://t.co/p2CL3Za64t pic.twitter.com/wQmBOOu3rh
— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) April 28, 2025
