Executive Branch

Lawfare Daily: An Insider’s Account of the Trump Administration’s Dismantling of USAID

Anna Hickey, Nicholas Enrich, Jen Patja
Thursday, May 7, 2026, 7:00 AM
Nicholas Enrich discusses his experience within USAID as DOGE dismantled it from the inside.

On today’s podcast, Lawfare Associate Editor for Communications Anna Hickey talks to Nicholas Enrich, former acting assistant administrator of Global Health at USAID, about his book, “Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID.” Enrich details the agency's dismantling during the early months of the Trump administration and whether those doing the dismantling understood the consequences of their actions. He also discusses the impact on global health programs, the role of political appointees and DOGE, and the consequences for international aid and U.S. global health security.

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Anna Hickey is the associate editor for communications of Lawfare. She holds a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies: communications, legal studies, economics, and government with a minor in international studies from American University.
Nicholas Enrich is the former acting administrator for Global Health at the United States Agency for International Development and author of "Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID."
Jen Patja is the editor of the Lawfare Podcast and Rational Security, and serves as Lawfare’s Director of Audience Engagement. Previously, she was Co-Executive Director of Virginia Civics and Deputy Director of the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, where she worked to deepen public understanding of constitutional democracy and inspire meaningful civic participation.
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