This is a free version of Devex Pro Insider from Senior Reporter Michael Igoe. Usually reserved for Pro members, we're opening it up to all readers this week as a preview of what you’re missing. Over the next few months, this special Saturday newsletter will tackle some of the biggest questions about the future of U.S. foreign aid. Not yet a Devex Pro member? Get full access to our Pro newsletters, exclusive events, and expert analysis with a 15-day free trial of Devex Pro.
If you hoped the pace might begin to slow as we approach August, I have some bad news: It has been a whirlwind week for U.S. foreign aid, with no sign of letting up.
It began with a Friday news dump: The dismissal of 1,300 civil servants from the U.S. State Department — part of a “reduction in force” that will eliminate 15% of the department’s personnel. The Trump administration has pitched this plan as an overdue reckoning with mission creep and bureaucratic bloat. Its detractors see an unprecedented act of diplomatic self-sabotage. More on that below.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
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