5 hours Ago By Moneycontrol
Elon Musk has said that it is time for USAID (United States Agency for International Development) to "die" and described it as a "criminal organization" after the agency tried to stop representatives from the billionaire's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from gaining access to restricted parts of the building. Musk’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between USAID and DOGE , the department he leads under the Donald Trump administration. In a series of posts on X, the platform he owns, Musk launched a broadside on USAID and even acknowledged another post claiming that the agency for funding the production of heroin in Afghanistan.
"Good question," he wrote as he retweeted another post. Musk's attack on the agency comes amid reports that US President Donald Trump will abolish USAID, an independent federal agency, and fold it into the US State Department. The social media account of USAID has already been deleted while its website has gone down.
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy at the White House, Stephen Miller, has accused USAID's workforce of being overwhelmingly Democrats. Musk vs USAID The friction between Musk and USAID began after two senior officials reportedly blocked DOGE representatives from accessing classified materials at USAID headquarters in Washington DC due to a lack of proper security clearances. The officials, Director of Security John Voorhees and his deputy Brian McGill, were subsequently placed on administrative leave.
Reports indicate that DOGE personnel eventually gained entry to sensitive areas, including the Office of Security and the Executive Secretariat. Despite initial denials by White House communications director Steven Cheung, DOGE staff member Katie Miller later acknowledged that no classified materials were accessed without clearances. This has fueled speculation that the Trump administration intends to significantly restructure or dissolve USAID.
Representative Brian Mast has suggested that USAID may soon operate under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s direct control, citing inefficiencies in the agency’s allocation of aid funds. Last week, bearkt 60 senior USAID staff were put on leave after accusations of trying to circumvent the executive order on foreign aid, CNN reported. Democratic lawmakers have condemned the developments.
What is USAID? USAID, established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, is the primary agency administering US foreign assistance. It has historically operated with significant autonomy, implementing programs in global health, education and disaster relief.
Critics have warned that dismantling USAID would harm U.S. soft power and create a vacuum for geopolitical rivals like China to exploit.
Proponents of restructuring argue that USAID’s inefficiencies hinder its mission, with Musk alleging it has become a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America.” However, experts caution that any major changes require Congressional approval, a potential sticking point given bipartisan concerns about national security and global influence..
