DOGE Reduces Inter-American Foundation Staff to One

In a significant restructuring, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has reduced the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) to just one employee to comply with President Trump's executive order aimed at streamlining federal bureaucracy. Previously staffed by 48 employees, the IAF, which focused on issuing foreign grants to support development in Latin America and the Caribbean, now operates at its statutory minimum. The decision, announced on March 4, follows Trump's directive to eliminate what he deemed unnecessary federal spending, resulting in the cancellation of numerous grants aimed at various social initiatives. The sole remaining employee is Peter Marocco, who was previously involved in similar cuts at other federal agencies. The IAF's budget of $60 million was significantly impacted, with several projects aimed at community development being scrapped. Critics have raised concerns over the implications of such drastic cuts on marginalized communities that relied on these grants for support.