Minor USAID Agency Head Blocks DOGE Team Access, Files Lawsuit Over Shutdown

The Trump administration is once again taking on the deep state, this time confronting a small, unaccountable foreign aid agency that has defied presidential authority and obstructed reforms aimed at cutting wasteful spending.

At the center of the controversy is Ward Brehm, the president and CEO of the United States African Development Foundation (USADF)—a little-known, taxpayer-funded agency with a $46 million budget that operates with virtually no oversight. Brehm, a bureaucrat entrenched in the foreign aid industry, has openly resisted Trump’s efforts to implement accountability and efficiency in government spending.

Brehm’s latest stunt came when he refused to allow Pete Marocco, a top official from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to enter USADF’s building. Marocco, who was appointed to ensure fiscal responsibility and eliminate waste, was met with outright defiance.

Instead of cooperating with Trump’s America First agenda, Brehm penned a letter questioning Marocco’s authority—a clear attempt to stall much-needed reforms. He went even further by filing a lawsuit to block Marocco’s involvement, claiming that DOGE had “deceived” the agency to gain access. In reality, DOGE’s mission was simple: to streamline USADF’s bloated bureaucracy and cut unnecessary spending.

According to Brehm’s lawsuit, USADF staff actively resisted DOGE’s efforts to cancel redundant grants and contracts, revealing the agency’s desperation to keep taxpayer dollars flowing to pet projects with little oversight.

DOGE officials reportedly informed board members that those who refused to cooperate with Trump’s agenda could be dismissed—a reasonable move given that government employees serve at the pleasure of the executive branch, not their own personal interests.

Yet Brehm, who claims to be a “political conservative” while parroting left-wing talking points, lashed out against Trump’s foreign aid freeze, calling it “reckless and cruel.” He painted a dramatic picture of refugee camps facing collapse, ignoring the fact that the U.S. already spends billions annually on humanitarian aid worldwide—much of it wasted on ineffective programs and bureaucratic middlemen like USADF.

Brehm’s actions underscore the resistance Trump faces from bureaucrats who believe they—not elected officials—should dictate foreign policy. His lawsuit is part of a broader effort by entrenched interests to obstruct Trump’s reforms and maintain the status quo of unchecked spending.

The reality is simple: Trump’s administration is working to ensure that U.S. foreign aid serves American interests and is spent responsibly—not wasted on programs that fail to deliver meaningful results. By targeting inefficiency and redirecting funds to where they can actually make an impact, the administration is fulfilling its promise to the American people.

As legal proceedings unfold, the question is not whether USADF should continue its unchecked spending, but whether unelected bureaucrats like Brehm should have the power to undermine presidential authority.

This case serves as a reminder of the deep state’s grip on Washington, and why Trump’s efforts to drain the swamp and restore accountability remain more critical than ever.