On March 18, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed Jeremy Lewin, a 28-year-old Harvard Law School graduate, former investment banker and official in Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, in charge of the U.S. Agency for International Development. While Lewin’s limited experience in government, diplomacy and foreign aid drew public criticism, internal USAID emails reviewed by WIRED indicate that agency leaders were also uncertain about how he had obtained the authority to act in the role.
Questions about Lewin’s authority
For at least two months, USAID leaders reportedly did not know how Lewin, who had appeared at the agency as a policy maker on vague details from the General Services Administration, had suddenly begun exercising authority at the top of the agency.
During the three weeks between March 18 and April 4, Lewin began discontinuing life-saving assistance programs and personally authorizing the firing of thousands of USAID employees. According to the emails reviewed by WIRED, he did not sign the documents normally required by law to begin working for the agency, despite repeated requests to do so.
His appointment was so unclear that USAID security guards could not issue him an identification card because the agency had no record of his employment.
Lewin, who now serves as director of policy and planning at the State Department, told WIRED that before transferring his authority to Rubio, he was “detailed and dual-appointed by Secretary Rubio to work for USAID, in accordance with established authorities and with the advice of the State Department and White House Counsel.”
Legal experts said it remains unclear whether Lewin had the authority to take on the role. He nevertheless performed duties as USAID’s chief deputy administrator and chief operating officer, titles Rubio gave him.
A broader legal dispute involving DOGE officials
The question of how Department of Government Efficiency officials such as Lewin came to hold senior positions at federal agencies, including USAID, is central to dozens of lawsuits against DOGE and the Trump administration. The cases challenge federal workforce reductions, layoffs and the proposed dissolution of agencies.
According to court filings, Rubio, acting as USAID administrator, signed a document on March 18 delegating the authority of deputy administrator for policy and programs and chief operating officer to Lewin. The document also designated Lewin as a “U.S. officer.”
The source also refers to a statement by Lewin filed in J. Doe 4 vs. US DOGE Services, a court case dated 2016 in the provided materials.
Hiring paperwork followed the appointment
On March 20, two days after Rubio appointed Lewin to lead USAID, Adam Korzeniewski, the White House’s USAID liaison, notified Human Resources to begin hiring Lewin as a senior adviser who would serve as deputy administrator, according to an email reviewed by WIRED.
Another email reviewed by WIRED said that, following instructions from Human Resources, Korzeniewski provided an expected start date of March 18. Lewin was offered a temporary position the next day.
Source: www.wired.com