Negli ultimi giorni, la U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), un’agenzia indipendente che finanzia progetti economici in Africa, è diventata il centro di un braccio di ferro con il Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), un ente federale gestito da Elon Musk per ridurre la burocrazia statunitense.

Mercoledì scorso, 5 marzo, un gruppo di dipendenti DOGE, guidato da Pete Marocco, ha tentato di accedere agli uffici della USADF a Washington con l’intenzione di licenziare il personale e prendere il controllo dell’agenzia. Tuttavia, i dipendenti della USADF, consapevoli delle intenzioni del gruppo, hanno impedito loro l’ingresso, bloccandoli per oltre un’ora. Il personale ha riconosciuto due giovani uomini con zaini che si spacciavano per membri dello staff senza però possedere i badge di accesso. Un addetto alla sicurezza, dopo aver ricevuto indicazioni dai dipendenti, ha negato loro l’accesso.

Elon Musk’s DOGE Sued After Using U.S. Marshals to Take Over Agency https://t.co/wyQghiLriw

— The New Republic (@newrepublic) March 6, 2025

La tensione è salita quando i membri di DOGE hanno minacciato di chiamare gli U.S. Marshals per forzare l’ingresso. Nonostante ciò, una volta saliti al piano della USADF, non hanno trovato nessuno disposto a farli entrare e, dopo aver vagato nei corridoi, hanno lasciato l’edificio, promettendo di tornare il giorno successivo con il supporto delle forze dell’ordine.

Il tentativo di acquisizione della USADF è parte di un più ampio programma voluto da Trump per eliminare agenzie federali considerate “non necessarie”, tra cui la Inter-American Foundation e l’U.S. Institute of Peace. Tuttavia, la USADF è un’agenzia indipendente creata dal Congresso e, secondo la sua legislazione, non può essere smantellata senza un atto formale del parlamento.

Update: In response to a suit filed earlier today by Democracy Forward on behalf of Ward Brehm, President of USADF, a District Court ruled to temporarily block Musk’s so-called “DOGE's” attempt to access USADF & remove Brehm as President. Full statement: https://t.co/Pb2KXxSckC pic.twitter.com/6M4A49tbsr

— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) March 7, 2025

Giovedì, DOGE ha fatto ritorno con il supporto degli U.S. Marshals, riuscendo a entrare nell’edificio, ormai vuoto. Poche ore dopo, Ward Brehm, presidente della USADF, ha presentato una causa legale contro Marocco e il DOGE, denunciando l’azione come illegale e non autorizzata. Nel documento si evidenzia come l’accesso forzato sia avvenuto senza che Marocco avesse ricevuto alcuna nomina ufficiale da parte del Senato per gestire l’agenzia.

Democracy Forward filed suit on behalf of Ward Brehm, President of U.S. African Development Foundation, to block DOGE from unlawfully accessing & shutting down USADF. This comes after DOGE attempted to access agency & fire employees yesterday. Learn more: https://t.co/XPzre4uBhJ pic.twitter.com/JdTFcT0YDL

— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) March 6, 2025

L’episodio ha scatenato un’ondata di indignazione, con proteste di fronte al Congresso e dibattiti sull’abuso di potere dell’amministrazione Trump e di Elon Musk. Molti osservatori temono che lo smantellamento della USADF possa avere ripercussioni a lungo termine sui progetti di sviluppo economico e stabilità sociale in Africa.

In recent days, the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), an independent agency that funds economic projects in Africa, has become the center of a standoff with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal body run by Elon Musk aimed at reducing U.S. bureaucracy.

Last Wednesday, March 5, a group of DOGE employees led by Pete Marocco attempted to access the USADF offices in Washington with the intention of firing staff and taking control of the agency. However, USADF employees, aware of the group’s intentions, blocked their entry for over an hour. The staff recognized two young men with backpacks posing as staff members, but they did not possess access badges. A security officer, after being informed by the employees, denied them access.

Elon Musk’s DOGE Sued After Using U.S. Marshals to Take Over Agency https://t.co/wyQghiLriw

— The New Republic (@newrepublic) March 6, 2025
Tensions escalated when DOGE members threatened to call in the U.S. Marshals to force their way in. Nevertheless, once they reached the USADF floor, they found no one willing to let them in and, after wandering through the hallways, left the building, promising to return the next day with support from law enforcement.

The attempt to acquire the USADF is part of a broader program initiated by Trump to eliminate federal agencies deemed “unnecessary,” including the Inter-American Foundation and the U.S. Institute of Peace. However, the USADF is an independent agency created by Congress, and according to its legislation, it cannot be dismantled without a formal act from parliament.

Update: In response to a suit filed earlier today by Democracy Forward on behalf of Ward Brehm, President of USADF, a District Court ruled to temporarily block Musk’s so-called “DOGE’s” attempt to access USADF & remove Brehm as President. Full statement: https://t.co/Pb2KXxSckC pic.twitter.com/6M4A49tbsr

— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) March 7, 2025
On Thursday, DOGE returned with the support of the U.S. Marshals, managing to enter the now-empty building. A few hours later, Ward Brehm, president of the USADF, filed a lawsuit against Marocco and DOGE, denouncing the action as illegal and unauthorized. The document highlights that the forced entry occurred without Marocco having received any official appointment from the Senate to manage the agency.

Democracy Forward filed suit on behalf of Ward Brehm, President of U.S. African Development Foundation, to block DOGE from unlawfully accessing & shutting down USADF. This comes after DOGE attempted to access the agency & fire employees yesterday. Learn more: https://t.co/XPzre4uBhJ pic.twitter.com/JdTFcT0YDL

— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) March 6, 2025
The incident has sparked an outpouring of outrage, with protests in front of Congress and debates over the abuse of power by the Trump administration and Elon Musk. Many observers fear that dismantling the USADF could have long-term repercussions for economic development projects and social stability in Africa.

Ces derniers jours, la U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), une agence indépendante finançant des projets économiques en Afrique, est devenue le centre d’une lutte de pouvoir avec le Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), un organisme fédéral dirigé par Elon Musk pour réduire la bureaucratie américaine.

Mercredi dernier, 5 mars, un groupe d’employés du DOGE, dirigé par Pete Marocco, a tenté d’accéder aux bureaux de l’USADF à Washington dans l’intention de licencier le personnel et de prendre le contrôle de l’agence. Cependant, les employés de l’USADF, conscients des intentions du groupe, leur ont interdit l’entrée en les bloquant pendant plus d’une heure. Le personnel a reconnu deux jeunes hommes avec des sacs à dos se faisant passer pour des membres du personnel sans posséder de badges d’accès. Un agent de sécurité, après avoir reçu des instructions des employés, leur a refusé l’accès.

La tension est montée lorsque des membres du DOGE ont menacé d’appeler les U.S. Marshals pour forcer l’entrée. Néanmoins, une fois montés à l’étage de l’USADF, ils n’ont trouvé personne disposé à les faire entrer et, après avoir erré dans les couloirs, ont quitté le bâtiment, promettant de revenir le lendemain avec le soutien des forces de l’ordre.

La tentative d’acquisition de l’USADF fait partie d’un programme plus large voulu par Trump pour éliminer des agences fédérales considérées comme “non nécessaires”, notamment la Inter-American Foundation et l’U.S. Institute of Peace. Cependant, l’USADF est une agence indépendante créée par le Congrès et, selon sa législation, ne peut être démantelée sans un acte formel du parlement.

Mise à jour : En réponse à une poursuite déposée plus tôt dans la journée par Democracy Forward au nom de Ward Brehm, président de l’USADF, un tribunal de district a décidé de bloquer temporairement la tentative dite “DOGE” de Musk d’accéder à l’USADF et de renvoyer Brehm en tant que président. Déclaration complète : https://t.co/Pb2KXxSckC pic.twitter.com/6M4A49tbsr

— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) 7 mars 2025
Jeudi, le DOGE est revenu avec le soutien des U.S. Marshals, parvenant à entrer dans le bâtiment, désormais vide. Quelques heures plus tard, Ward Brehm, président de l’USADF, a intenté une action en justice contre Marocco et le DOGE, dénonçant l’action comme illégale et non autorisée. Le document souligne que l’accès forcé a eu lieu sans que Marocco ait reçu de nomination officielle du Sénat pour gérer l’agence.

Democracy Forward a déposé une plainte au nom de Ward Brehm, président de la U.S. African Development Foundation, pour bloquer le DOGE d’accéder illégalement et de fermer l’USADF. Cela fait suite à la tentative du DOGE d’accéder à l’agence et de renvoyer des employés hier. En savoir plus : https://t.co/XPzre4uBhJ pic.twitter.com/JdTFcT0YDL

— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) 6 mars 2025
L’épisode a déclenché une vague d’indignation, avec des manifestations devant le Congrès et des débats sur l’abus de pouvoir de l’administration Trump et d’Elon Musk. De nombreux observateurs craignent que le démantèlement de l’USADF puisse avoir des répercussions à long terme sur les projets de développement économique et de stabilité sociale en Afrique.