Trump Official Who Allegedly Stormed Capitol Places Aid Workers on Leave: ‘You Are Not to Enter USAID Premises’

Defense.gov & Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images

Remaining staffers at the U.S. Agency for International Development were placed on administrative leave, Tuesday by a Trump administration official accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In a memo titled, “PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE,” acting deputy administrator for management and resources Pete Marocco advised USAID employees they were “being placed on excused absence (also known as administrative leave) with pay effective immediately.”

“You will remain on administrative leave with pay until otherwise notified,” Marocco said, advising:

While you are on administrative leave with pay, you must be available by telephone and e-mail during normal business hours, as it may be necessary for Agency officials to contact you. To that end, as soon as possible from your personal email, please email kgunsolus@usaid.gov your personal contact information, including your phone number, email and mailing address.

You also must remain available to report to work if directed to do so. If you wish to request other leave (annual, sick or leave without pay) during this period, you should contact me to make your request.

During the period that you are on administrative leave you are not to enter USAID premises, access USAID systems, or attempt to use your position or authority with USAID in any way without my prior permission or prior permission of a supervisor in your chain of command.

The agency’s Staff Care Program is available to you during this time for free, confidential counseling and assistance. You can obtain assistance by calling 1-877-988-7243. Participation in this program is voluntary.

More than 50 USAID employees had already been placed on administrative leave last month, with the previous action targeting senior leadership and attorneys.

Following Trump’s inauguration, Marocco was tapped by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to oversee USAID, which has been targeted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

According to NBC News, Marocco was reportedly identified by “online sleuths” as one of the rioters who entered the Capitol building during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots, and was allegedly seen in CCTV climbing through a broken window.

“Photos of the person who entered the building were a strong facial recognition match for publicly available images of Marocco, online sleuths said,” reported NBC News.

Marocco was not among those charged for their participation in the Capitol riots.