Elon Musk and Trump Administration Target USAID, Triggering Democratic Backlash
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a cornerstone in combating global poverty and funding education, faces unprecedented dismantling efforts spearheaded by the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk. This aggressive move has ignited fierce opposition from congressional Democrats, who deem the actions unlawful and are preparing to contest them in court.
In a bold attempt to counter President Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce and restructure the federal government, Democratic lawmakers tried to gain access to USAID’s Washington headquarters on Monday. Security personnel prevented them from entering the lobby, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared himself the acting administrator of the agency, challenging its six-decade independence.
As Trump dedicates the initial weeks of his presidency to sweeping federal changes, the rapid and controversial actions against USAID have become a focal point of contention. Democrats argue that these steps highlight the significant influence Musk wields in Washington.
“Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” Musk declared on X, expressing satisfaction with the agency’s shutdown.
Within weeks, USAID experienced a significant breakdown: operations and funding were halted, leadership and staff were reduced through furloughs and dismissals, and the agency’s website was removed. Lawmakers reported that the agency’s computer systems were removed from the premises.
Trump stated to reporters on Monday that the closure of USAID “should have been done a long time ago,” and questioned the necessity of Congressional approval for such an action.
Democrats Push Back
Despite efforts by some Democrats to enter USAID’s offices to engage with remaining staff about the agency’s dismantling, Department of Homeland Security officers identified as USAID employees denied them entry. One officer informed the lawmakers, “Elon Musk’s not here.”
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland described the situation as an “illegal power grab” and a “corrupt abuse of power.”
“It’s not only a gift to our adversaries, but trying to shut down the Agency for International Development by executive order is plain illegal,” Van Hollen stated.
Democrats have indicated that they are preparing legal challenges and plan to oppose the confirmation of Trump’s State Department nominees until the shutdown is reversed. However, with Democrats holding a reduced majority in both the House and Senate following last November’s elections, their influence is limited.
Musk announced the agency’s closure early Monday while Rubio was abroad on a Central America trip.
Rubio informed reporters in San Salvador that he had assumed the role of acting administrator for USAID but had delegated his duties to Peter Marocco. Marocco, a political appointee from Trump’s first administration, had previously faced staff protests over his attempts to cut programs and initiate thorough investigations that many senior officials claimed hindered operational efficiency.
AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Elon Musk says President Donald Trump has ‘agreed’ USAID should be shut down.
In his communication, Rubio emphasized that certain USAID programs might continue under the new structure but asserted that the agency had become unaccountable to both the executive branch and Congress, necessitating the organizational change.
USAID’s Work Worldwide
Long a target for conservative Republicans seeking to diminish its independence, USAID has traditionally been supported by Democrats who uphold its status as an autonomous agency. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 during the Cold War to more effectively counter Soviet influence abroad, USAID was intended to streamline foreign assistance and reduce bureaucratic obstacles within the State Department.
The Trump administration’s freeze on foreign assistance and direct assaults on USAID, which oversees humanitarian, development, and security programs in approximately 120 countries, have led to the termination of thousands of programs globally. This action has resulted in significant layoffs, furloughs, and financial instability within the agency.
USAID is recognized as the world’s leading humanitarian aid provider, and these abrupt changes have disrupted decades-long U.S. policies that centered on using humanitarian, development, and security assistance to foster alliances and counteract adversaries like China and Russia. Trump, Musk, and Republican lawmakers have criticized the U.S. foreign assistance program for alleged inefficiency and for promoting liberal social initiatives.
The United States allocates less than 1% of its budget to foreign assistance, a proportion smaller than that of some other nations. Trump has accused the Biden administration of engaging in fraud with no provided evidence, merely promising a report in the future.
“They went totally crazy, what they were doing and the money they were giving to people that shouldn’t be getting it and to agencies and others that shouldn’t be getting it, it was a shame, so a tremendous fraud,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
USAID’s Latest Hit
USAID employees reported that over 600 additional workers were locked out of the agency’s computer systems overnight. Remaining personnel received notifications stating that, “at the direction of Agency leadership,” the headquarters building “will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3.” The agency’s website disappeared on Saturday without any explanation.
Musk is overseeing a significant civilian overhaul of the federal government with the backing of Trump. The day began with Musk announcing on a live X Spaces session that he had extensively consulted with Trump about USAID and that the president “agreed we should shut it down.”
“It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm in it,” Musk remarked during the live session. “What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.”
Since Trump assumed office, appointees from his first term, including Marocco, have placed over 50 senior officials on leave pending investigations without public disclosure, effectively removing the agency’s leadership. When the agency’s personnel chief attempted to clear these allegations and reinstate staff, he too was placed on leave.
Over the weekend, the Trump administration put two top security officials at USAID on leave after they refused to relinquish classified materials to Musk’s inspection teams. A current and a former U.S. official confirmed these events.
Musk’s DOGE previously executed a similar operation at the Treasury Department, where his team accessed sensitive information, including data from Social Security and Medicare payment systems. According to The Washington Post, a senior Treasury official resigned amid concerns over Musk’s team’s access to confidential information.
