Alright folks, buckle up, because this is government bureaucracy meets corporate-style efficiency, and the old guard is not happy about it. The U.S. DOGE Service—Elon Musk’s federal downsizing machine—just stormed the offices of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) in Washington, and let’s just say, it didn’t go unnoticed.
What’s playing out here is a full-blown power struggle between President Donald Trump’s administration, which is trying to slash unnecessary agencies, and entrenched federal bureaucrats who are refusing to budge.
Small federal agency, U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), blocks DOGE employees from entering its building https://t.co/1Wp3VBzTTR pic.twitter.com/Shj5rupXCt
— AuntyAlias – Artist, Astrologer, Author (@AuntyAlias) March 6, 2025
Let’s start with what happened: DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) employees attempted to enter the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday and were blocked. So, they came back the next day—this time with U.S. marshals and senior Trump administration officials in tow. Their goal? Take control of USADF, enforce Trump’s executive order to eliminate “unnecessary government entities,” and ensure the agency’s operations were reduced to “the minimum presence and function required by law.”
Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Not so fast.
USADF’s leadership—particularly Ward Brehm, its president and CEO—was not going down without a fight. Brehm, a Republican businessman and longtime advocate for African development, quickly sued Trump, DOGE officials, and Pete Marocco, the man Trump tapped to lead the transition. A federal judge stepped in and put a temporary halt to any changes, blocking Marocco and DOGE from firing Brehm or taking over the agency—at least until the courts weigh in on whether Trump actually has the authority to dissolve USADF.
Here’s where things get dicey. USADF isn’t just some office that a president can shut down with the stroke of a pen. It was created by an act of Congress in 1980, meaning only Congress can formally dissolve it. Critics argue that Trump’s executive order might have overstepped its legal authority—yet the White House insists it has the power to restructure agencies under executive branch control.
Norman Eisen, a senior fellow at Brookings, summed up the legal challenge: “Trump, Musk, and DOGE have been running rampant over legal limits—no wonder the courts have been stopping the administration at so many turns.”
JUST IN: The head of the US African Development Foundation is suing Peter Marocco and DOGE — and he is describing in detail the standoff in which he blocked DOGE from entering the agency’s offices.https://t.co/TjXY8DZYc8 pic.twitter.com/xLUJtDLd5I
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) March 6, 2025
But here’s the thing—while bureaucrats and legal experts argue over technicalities, DOGE is moving full speed ahead, tearing through government inefficiencies and actually getting things done.
This isn’t just about one small aid agency—it’s about the broader battle over government bloat vs. reform. USADF has a tiny staff (only about 50 employees) compared to agencies like USAID, yet it still falls under the same umbrella of international aid programs that critics argue operate with far too little oversight. Trump’s argument is simple: Why should American taxpayers keep funding these mini-agencies when other departments—like the State Department and USAID—already handle foreign aid?
On the other hand, Brehm and USADF defenders argue that their agency specifically helps small African businesses and promotes economic stability in developing nations. Cutting it, they say, will have ripple effects across the continent and weaken America’s strategic partnerships.
