Ex-State Officials Plot to Undermine Trump’s Agenda

A new report has sparked controversy by claiming that former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and State Department officials are quietly turning their skills for overthrowing foreign dictators against President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to an investigation by NOTUS, some former officials who worked on democracy promotion abroad are allegedly applying similar strategies to organize internal dissent within the federal government. Some are holding workshops on “noncooperation,” recruiting current civil servants willing to engage in subtle acts of defiance, and even studying case histories of insurgencies like the Danish underground against Nazi occupation.

One anonymous official told NOTUS, “Take it from those of us who worked in authoritarian countries: We’ve become one.” They suggested that the rapid dismantling of USAID’s democracy programs may have unintentionally enabled skilled former officials to channel their expertise into domestic activism.

The informal network, which includes former diplomats and human rights workers, has reportedly been circulating an old Central Intelligence Agency guide titled “Simple Sabotage.” The pamphlet was once used to weaken authoritarian regimes overseas.

Among the groups emerging from this movement is “DemocracyAID,” a collective with no formal website or legal structure but which is already hosting invitation-only meetings to teach resistance tactics. Ro Tucci, the former director of the USAID Center for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, is one of its organizers. She leads sessions she calls “Authoritarianism 101,” showing participants how small acts of dissent can grow into larger collective action.

Inside the Trump administration, officials are calling these efforts undemocratic and dangerous. Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly condemned the activity, saying it undermines the will of voters who elected Trump to implement his “America First” policies.

Supporters of the administration insist that, despite the growing pockets of internal resistance, they will move forward with their agenda. The State Department has said it is not aware of these specific sabotage efforts but stressed that protecting national security remains a top priority.

While some see the movement as patriotic resistance, others warn it could erode trust in public institutions. One former official described the situation in blunt terms: “There’s only so many ways to do fascism,” they said. “The tactics to counter it still work. And there are many more ways to be creative.”

As these underground networks gain attention, the debate over loyalty, dissent, and democracy inside the federal government is likely to grow even more heated.