In an astonishing display of force and determination, DOGE personnel and federal law enforcement had an in-person standoff with workers at The African Development Foundation, a small federal agency that has sent over $100 million in aid to Africa. The foundation was one of dozens of agencies that DOGE put in their crosshairs as the culprits of wasteful government spending.
For context, DOGE (The Department of Government Efficiency), headed by SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, has been working tirelessly to root out corruption and waste within the federal government. DOGE’s work has reportedly led to billions of dollars saved, and this outcome has been met with uproarious praise from conservatives.
The standoff at the US African Development Foundation began on Thursday, March 6, and involved DOGE staffers, US Marshalls, and other government officials, who faced intense resistance from the personnel at the small foreign aid-focused agency. According to CNN coverage, several members of The African Development Foundation’s board were present when DOGE and law enforcement showed up, intensifying the exchange that followed.
When DOGE arrived at the offices of The African Development Foundation, an altercation broke out quickly, and the conflict transformed into an emergency court case. The case concluded with a judge intervening to temporarily prevent DOGE from making any changes to The African Development Foundation’s leadership structure.
However, under direct orders from President Trump, one board member, Ward Brehm, was already removed from his position at the foundation and told that someone else would take his board seat. Brehm’s replacement has not yet been announced. In response to DOGE’s efficiency-focused work, the board of The African Development Foundation held an emergency meeting in an attempt to counter DOGE’s efforts.
The board members at The African Development Foundation have acted out of shameless desperation since DOGE arrived at their doors, even attempting to get Congress to come to their aid. The removed board member Ward Brehm told CNN that The African Development Foundation’s board attempted to push back at the appointing of Peter Marocco — Trump’s choice to be the de-facto leader of USAID, another agency that has come under fire for wasteful spending.
As the current leader of USAID, Mr. Marocco played a key role in getting DOGE access to the offices of The African Development Foundation. Marocco told the board members who were present on March 6 that he would come back with United States Marshals and Secret service if not granted access. In the end, US Marshals did help Mr. Marocco and DOGE staffers enter the offices of The African Development Foundation.
When questioned by the press about DOGE’s forceful entry into the agency’s offices, White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “Entitled, rogue bureaucrats have no authority to defy executive orders by the President of the United States or physically bar his representatives from entering the agencies they run.” This statement echoes the ethos of President Trump’s recent executive orders, which have reduced the operational capacity of executive branch agencies and foundations to their “statutory minimum” in an effort to reduce wasteful spending.
Watch the White House’s response to the recent USAID overhaul:
