USAID Employees Locked Out as Musk Says Trump Agreed to Shut It Down/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ USAID employees were locked out of their Washington headquarters Monday, after Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump had agreed to shut down the agency. Security guards and Homeland Security officers blocked access, while more than 600 employees lost access to government systems. Democrats call the move illegal, warning it could compromise sensitive government data.
Musk & Trump’s USAID Shutdown: Quick Looks
- USAID employees locked out of headquarters, told not to report to work.
- Over 600 staffers lost computer access overnight.
- Homeland Security officers blocked the lobby, using “Do Not Cross” tape.
- Musk declared on X Spaces: “We’re shutting it down. It’s beyond repair.”
- USAID’s website vanished Saturday, amid Trump’s crackdown on federal agencies.
- Democratic lawmakers protest the move, calling it unconstitutional.
- Trump insists USAID was run by “radical lunatics” and needed to be dismantled.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio remains silent, currently on a diplomatic trip.
USAID Employees Locked Out as Musk Says Trump Agreed to Shut It Down
USAID Staff Locked Out as Musk Declares Agency Shut Down
Musk Declares USAID Closure, Employees Turned Away
On Monday morning, USAID staffers arrived at their Washington headquarters to find security guards refusing entry. Later, Homeland Security officers blocked the lobby, using yellow “Do Not Cross” tape.
The sudden closure follows a late-night announcement from Elon Musk, who claimed:
“USAID isn’t just an apple with a worm in it—it’s a ball of worms. We’re shutting it down.”
Musk, who leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been conducting “government inspections” aimed at reducing federal programs.
600+ Employees Locked Out of Systems
In addition to losing office access, over 600 USAID employees found themselves locked out of government computers overnight.
Those still in the system received an email stating:
“At the direction of Agency leadership, USAID headquarters will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3.”
Despite the shutdown, the white USAID flag remained flying in front of the empty agency building.
Trump & Musk’s Crackdown on USAID
The closure is part of Trump’s broader effort to dismantle USAID, which oversees humanitarian aid and development programs in 120 countries.
Trump defended the decision:
“It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics. And we’re getting them out.”
His administration has already:
- Frozen billions in foreign aid, shutting down relief programs worldwide.
- Laid off thousands of USAID-funded workers, cutting global humanitarian efforts.
- Ordered furloughs for top officials, leaving USAID’s leadership in chaos.
Musk’s Expanding Influence in Washington
Musk’s DOGE team has already gained access to classified government information, raising serious security concerns.
- Over the weekend, two USAID security officials were placed on leave for refusing to grant Musk’s team access to restricted intelligence materials.
- Treasury Department officials also lost jobs after Musk’s team accessed Social Security & Medicare payment systems.
“Trump is allowing Musk to access people’s personal information and shut down government funding,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Legal & Political Backlash Against USAID Shutdown
- USAID is funded by Congress, meaning Trump cannot dismantle it unilaterally.
- Federal law requires a formal process for agency closures, which has not happened.
- Senate Democrats are demanding an immediate investigation into Musk’s access to sensitive government data.
“We must do everything in our power to push back and protect people from harm,” Warren said.
Rubio Silent as USAID Shuts Down
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who oversees USAID, has not commented on the shutdown.
- He is currently on a diplomatic trip in Central America.
- His absence leaves questions unanswered about who authorized the agency’s closure.
What’s Next?
- Congress may challenge Trump’s move, setting up a legal battle over USAID’s future.
- More federal agencies could be next, as Musk’s DOGE team expands inspections.
- Global humanitarian efforts are in limbo, with USAID’s aid programs on hold.
For now, USAID remains closed, its employees locked out, and its future uncertain.
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