DOGE bro who fired thousands and ended USAID may not have had authority to make changes: report

A DOGE affiliate who oversaw the firing of thousands of federal employees and ended USAID may not have had the authority to do so, according to a report.​Jeremy Lewin, a former associate of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency who became the State Department’s director of policy planning, said Tuesday he would be exiting the Trump administration to reenter the private sector.​Lewin’s exit followed a report by WIRED that suggested that the outgoing federal worker had not completed mandatory paperwork before ordering the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development - something detailed in a memorandum titled “USAID’s Final Mission.”​In a social media statement announcing his departure, Lewin said that he was “grateful” for being able to carry out the Trump administration’s vision.Jeremy Lewin (center) laid off thousands of people when he shuttered USAID (AFP/Getty)​“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to work for @POTUS Trump and @SecRubio, and I’m eternally grateful for their trust in me to execute their foreign policy vision,” Lewin said. “President Trump has put decades of post-Cold War malaise behind us - permanently transforming U.S. foreign policy to put Americans first, keep them safe, and drive peace and shared prosperity in key regions.”​However, internal USAID emails obtained by WIRED stated Lewin had not signed paperwork that allowed him to work at the agency - in the period spanning March 18 to April 4, during which he laid off thousands of employees.​Adam Korzeniewski, the White House liaison to USAID, told the agency’s HR department to begin onboarding the now-outgoing employee on March 20, the emails showed. That was two days after he was installed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Elon Musk's DOGE was meant to shrink the size of the federal government (AFP/Getty)​Lewin still had not accepted the job offer by March 26, the emails show, and did not fill out his OF-306 form - a document needed for a final job offer - by that time.​The USAID Final Mission memorandum was sent on March 28, with the transfer of much of the agency’s operations to the State Department.​“It will also obviate the need for USAID to continue operating as an independent establishment,” the memorandum states.Another email showed that he had not completed the onboarding process by March 31, WIRED reports.​Lewin, a former investment banker, told the publication that he was a government employee during the period in which the change was rolled out.​“I was a regular government employee with a valid security clearance held by the State Department during this entire period,” he said. The shuttering of the US Agency for International Development was detailed in a memorandum named: 'USAID's Final Mission' (AFP/Getty)“USAID HR was confused about this paperwork for a period of days, but this issue was cleared up once they were made aware of the dual appointment and my State Department position.”​The outgoing worker gave two forms, both dated March 18, to WIRED. One of the documents was an appointment by Rubio to the role of director of strategy and planning via provision 22 U.S.C. § 2385(b). The provision is part of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act, designed to allow the government to appoint people to roles without following standard protocols within the civil service.​Speaking to WIRED, a former USAID official said: “It is so unconventional that I’d never seen it used before I got to USAID.”The Independent has contacted the State Department for comment.