'Hero of the story is actually the villain,' former African Development Foundation employees tell Daily Wire

The African Development Foundation was shuttered by the Department of Government Efficiency .

Democrats say it means poor Africans will suffer and public servants will lose their jobs.

But top officials used the agency to advance their own interests and live lives of luxury at the expense of those Africans .

The Daily Wire investigation found the agency helped Herbalife make inroads in Africa .

The African Development Foundation had a staff of between 30 and 60 , and a budget of $45 million .

By law, it was permitted to give grants only to African groups, and in the amount of $ 250,000 or less.

The agency entered into a partnership with the National Basketball Players Association , where NBA players could choose how to spend money in Africa , and American taxpayers would match it.

DOGE critics now claim that the African Development Foundation was essential and mourn for the jobs lost.

When it was operational, no one showed an interest in the agency, Nagar said.

It "just seemed like there was never going to be any consequence for any of these things," he said.