Musk Says Trump Agrees to Dismantle USAID—What’s Next?/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump has agreed to shut down USAID, calling the agency “beyond repair.” Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been investigating the agency, leading to security conflicts. The move follows Trump’s broader efforts to cut federal programs and foreign aid.
Musk Confirms USAID Shutdown: Quick Looks
- Elon Musk stated on X Spaces that Trump agreed to shut down USAID.
- Musk’s DOGE team gained access to classified USAID documents.
- Two USAID security chiefs were placed on leave after blocking DOGE’s access.
- The administration has halted foreign aid, leading to thousands of layoffs.
- The agency’s website vanished on Saturday without explanation.
- Treasury officials also resigned after DOGE accessed sensitive financial data.
- Democratic leaders, including Elizabeth Warren, are pushing back.
- USAID has historically managed billions in global humanitarian aid.
Musk Says Trump Agrees to Dismantle USAID—What’s Next?
Trump and Musk’s USAID Shutdown: Deep Look
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) appears to be on the verge of being dismantled after Elon Musk claimed that President Donald Trump agreed to shut it down. Speaking in a live session on X Spaces early Monday, the billionaire adviser stated that the agency was “beyond repair” and needed to be eliminated.
Musk’s Statement & Government Access Issues
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been investigating various federal agencies, including USAID. During his live session, he explained that after speaking with Trump, they concluded that USAID wasn’t just flawed but a “ball of worms” requiring a complete shutdown.
His remarks follow a tense standoff at USAID headquarters, where two top security officials—John Voorhees and Brian McGill—were placed on leave for refusing to grant Musk’s DOGE team access to classified materials. According to anonymous U.S. officials, the security chiefs blocked access because Musk’s team lacked the necessary security clearance.
Despite the pushback, DOGE members eventually gained access to USAID’s restricted intelligence reports on Saturday. Musk later posted on X, calling USAID a “criminal organization” and stating, “Time for it to die.”
Treasury Department Raid & Rising Concerns
The incident at USAID comes just a day after Musk’s DOGE team executed a similar operation at the Treasury Department, where they accessed sensitive data, including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems. This led to the resignation of a senior Treasury official, according to The Washington Post.
The DOGE initiative, which was formed to cut federal programs, reduce regulations, and fire government employees, has now extended its reach into multiple agencies, raising alarms among officials and lawmakers.
Trump’s Crackdown on USAID & Foreign Aid
Trump’s administration has been actively freezing foreign aid, cutting off humanitarian, development, and security programs worldwide. The move has led to thousands of layoffs within aid organizations and has severely impacted global relief efforts. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has played a key role in enforcing this freeze, along with Peter Marocco, a returning Trump appointee.
USAID’s website mysteriously vanished on Saturday, adding to concerns that the agency is already being dismantled without formal announcements.
When asked about USAID’s closure, Trump responded: “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics. And we’re getting them out.”
Political Reactions & Pushback
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Trump and Musk, saying, “We must do everything in our power to push back and protect people from harm.”
Critics argue that eliminating USAID will not only harm global humanitarian efforts but also weaken U.S. influence abroad, as the agency manages billions in aid across 100+ countries.
What’s Next?
With USAID already gutted and its leadership sidelined, it appears the agency is on the path to full dissolution. However, legal and political challenges may arise as Democratic lawmakers attempt to block or slow down the shutdown.
Meanwhile, Musk’s DOGE team continues to expand its influence, raising concerns over private sector figures accessing classified government data without oversight. The situation is still unfolding, with more potential shakeups in federal agencies on the horizon.
