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Internal USAID emails reviewed by WIRED reveal that while Lewin was canceling lifesaving aid programs and terminating thousands of federal employees, he had not signed the paperwork typically required by law to begin work at the agency, despite repeated requests.

Lewin, currently director of policy planning at the State Department, tells WIRED that he was “both detailed and dual appointed to work at USAID by Secretary Rubio according to well-established authorities and with the advice of State Department and White House counsel.”

Experts, though, say that while Lewin performed the duties of a top USAID leader under the title Rubio handed to him, it isn’t clear that he had the legal authority to do so. In fact, USAID security was unable to issue him an ID card because they had no records of his employment.