New USAID head looking at criminal referrals to DOJ regarding cases of fraud

The man chosen by President Donald Trump to head the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is reportedly preparing to refer some employees and grant recipients to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution.

Why? Because the employees and grant recipients are guilty of misusing taxpayer funds that were supposed to go toward foreign development programs.

Acting USAID Deputy Administrator Peter Marocco revealed these plans during a closed-door briefing Wednesday with the House Foreign Affairs Committee, according to the New York Times.

New: During briefing w/ House Foreign Affairs Committee today, Trump official Peter Marocco said 5,400 USAID contracts have been terminated, while 1209 retained awards, per sources.

Also said they might make criminal referrals to the DOJ regarding unspecified cases of fraud…

— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) March 5, 2025

“Marocco [said] while an internal review was still in its early stages, members of his team believed they had uncovered a pattern of illegal activity at the agency,” the Times notes. “[He] told lawmakers that he is looking into contracts and grants awarded as part of the agency’s sprawling network of taxpayer-funded initiatives.”

Congressional Democrats, meanwhile, reportedly used the Wednesday meeting to complain about the Trump administration’s cuts to USAID and even ask Marocco about the Jan. 6th riot:

Peter Marocco, the man put in charge by President Trump to oversee U.S. foreign assistance, including democracy assistance programs, wouldn’t answer if he was at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 trying to violently overthrow a free and fair election.

— Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) March 5, 2025

“We asked specifically what American companies who have been contracted with the State Department, contracted with the USAID, have been terminated and why. He refused to answer the question,” Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove cried to The Hill.

“While he contradicted himself, saying that they have detailed documentation on all of the programs, on all of the vendors, and yet somehow he is not able to provide that information,” she added.

Democrats also wailed and groaned because the meeting wasn’t held public, lasted only an hour, and because lawmakers were only allowed 30 seconds to ask questions, whereas Marocco was granted a full two minutes to reply to each question.

Peter Marocco was on the Hill for the first time to brief Congress on the Administration’s dismantling of U.S. foreign aid. This should have been the open hearing Dems asked for, so Republicans can answer to the American public. Instead they hid behind… pic.twitter.com/QsuV2M5mNu

— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) March 5, 2025

“He couldn’t address why errors were made, he couldn’t give us any specifics on how they are conducting this review,” Rep. Sara Jacobs complained. “He couldn’t give us answers on what specific programs are turned off or turned on.”

“And he wouldn’t even commit to providing us written accounting of what the money is going to and what is being turned on and what is being turned off. So I think it’s clear that this is anything but an actual methodical review,” she added.

One Republican, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, also complained about the meeting, telling The Hill that waivers designed to implement “lifesaving foreign assistance” from being cut haven’t been “fully implemented.”

“They have lifesaving, humanitarian assistance waivers, and they need to implement them,” he said.

The closed-door meeting was protested by far-left activists.

Watch:

#happeningnow protest outside @HouseForeignGOP where Pete Marocco is giving a brief to lawmakers about USAID

“Marocco has blood on his hands, unfreeze aid now” pic.twitter.com/FIF71u8PYJ

— Laura Kelly (@HelloLauraKelly) March 5, 2025

HAPPENING NOW:

Anti-Trump protesters stormed the Rayburn House office building to protest Peter Marocco, the head of the Inter-American Foundation.

(Insurrection ???)

Marocco was recently appointed to his position by President Trump.
The protesters are demanding that more… pic.twitter.com/cwugIYSSsl

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 5, 2025

The activists were mad at him because he’s responsible for cutting programs that provided healthcare assistance in countries beset by AIDs.

“Marocco completely ended nearly 10,000 aid programs in one fell swoop — including those they had granted waivers just days earlier — saying the programs did not align with Trump’s agenda,” ProPublica, a left-wing propaganda site, complained.

“The move consigns untold numbers of the world’s poorest children, refugees and other vulnerable people to death, according to several senior federal officials,” the complaining continued.

Senior Staff Writer
[email protected]

V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

Latest posts by Vivek Saxena (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.