Federal marshals escorted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials into the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) after employees had previously denied access to Trump administration officials, including Pete Marocco. The takeover followed a standoff as officials attempted to dismiss staff and appoint Marocco as acting leader, prompted by President Trump labeling the foundation as “unnecessary.” In response, USADF President Ward Brehm filed a lawsuit to prevent Marocco’s ousting and reasserted his position. The White House defended its actions, claiming authority under executive orders, while tensions escalated over control and funding cuts amid staffing disputes.
On Thursday, federal marshals accompanied officials from the Department of Government Efficiency into the U.S. African Development Foundation, just a day after employees denied access to the Trump administration’s budget-reducing unit and Pete Marocco, the State Department official responsible for foreign aid.
Once they gained entry, security personnel were instructed to change the locks of the federal agency, according to a security representative on-site. Videos shared online showed Mr. Marocco entering the building at a separate time from the DOGE officials, with the security official confirming he was inside briefly.
The takeover of the modest foundation, which employs around 55 staff and operates with an annual budget of roughly $45 million, followed a weeks-long stand-off between administration representatives and the foundation’s leadership. The foundation’s leaders stood firm against the attempts by Mr. Marocco and the Department of Government Efficiency team, overseen by Elon Musk, to take control of their operations, terminate staff, and appoint Mr. Marocco as the interim leader.
Shortly after the officials arrived on Thursday with federal marshals, the foundation’s president, Ward Brehm, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia aimed at preventing Mr. Marocco from ousting him and seizing control.
“Without immediate intervention from this court, the defendants will persist in their aggressive tactics and force their way into” the foundation, stated Mr. Brehm’s complaint, warning that “in just days, their actions could cause irreparable harm.”
He requested the judge to issue orders preventing the Trump administration from removing him from his position and from installing Mr. Marocco or anyone else in his stead, alongside a court order affirming Mr. Brehm as the rightful president of the foundation.
The White House denied any wrongdoing, asserting that President Trump had mandated the reduction of staff to a legal minimum and appointed Mr. Marocco as the acting chair of the board.
“Entitled, rogue officials have no jurisdiction to defy executive orders issued by the President of the United States or to physically prevent his representatives from entering the agencies they oversee,” stated Anna Kelly, a spokeswoman for the White House.
Representatives for Mr. Musk’s team and the State Department did not respond promptly to requests for comments.
Prior to becoming a target for the Trump administration, the U.S. African Development Foundation provided federal grants of up to $250,000 directly to grassroots initiatives and social entrepreneurs in Africa. However, on February 19, President Trump issued an executive order explicitly identifying the foundation as one of the few entities deemed “unnecessary,” which led Mr. Musk’s team to begin attempts to reduce the majority of its programs despite objections from the staff and board.
Mr. Brehm’s lawsuit alleges that officials affiliated with Mr. Musk initially attempted to access the foundation under false pretenses and disregarded legal stipulations that prohibit them from dissolving the board and cutting the foundation’s funding. According to the complaint, Mr. Brehm and other board members resisted their authority, even reinstalling Mr. Brehm as president of the foundation after Mr. Marocco self-appointed to the position on an interim basis.
On Wednesday, tensions escalated when Mr. Marocco and at least two of Mr. Musk’s deputies — Jacob Altik, a lawyer, and Ethan Shaotran, a software engineer — were denied entry to the offices, as reported by Mr. Brehm and seen in videos filmed at the foundation. Mr. Marocco warned he would return with U.S. Marshals and the Secret Service if they were not granted access.
Mr. Altik and Mr. Shaotran did not respond to inquiries for comments. However, both were observed entering the building housing the foundation on Thursday, accompanied by other members of Mr. Musk’s team, including Nate Cavanaugh. Mr. Brehm’s lawsuit indicated that Mr. Cavanaugh was another engineer closely involved in the effort to take control of the foundation in the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s executive order. Mr. Cavanaugh did not respond to requests for comment.
The standoff on Wednesday reportedly lasted about an hour. By Thursday, it appeared that DOGE representatives remained in the foundation’s offices for several hours after their arrival.
Eric Lee, Nicholas Nehamas and Aishvarya Kavi contributed reporting.