WASHINGTON — In a significant backlash, Democrats have voiced strong opposition to the Trump administration’s initiative to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which plays a vital role in providing global aid focused on education, hunger alleviation, and disease control. They labeled the actions as unlawful, promising to pursue legal action, while criticizing billionaire Elon Musk for his substantial influence in governmental affairs.
Staff members of USAID were ordered to avoid the agency’s Washington headquarters, and congressional representatives were barred from entering the lobby on Monday, following Musk’s announcement that President Trump had consented to the agency’s closure. The swift actions come amidst a backdrop of recent layoffs and program cancellations affecting thousands of USAID staff during the initial weeks of Trump’s presidency. The unfolding situation highlights Musk’s significant authority within the newly established Department of Government Efficiency under the current administration. Musk had publicized the decision to shut down USAID earlier on Monday, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was overseas in Central America.
Trump stated that the decision to close USAID “should have been made long ago.” When questioned about whether such a move required congressional approval, he expressed skepticism, alleging that the Biden administration had engaged in fraudulent activities, although he provided no evidence to support his claims and merely promised a forthcoming report.
“They went totally crazy, giving money to people that shouldn’t have received it and to agencies that had no business getting it; it was a shame, so a tremendous fraud,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Rubio indicated in San Salvador that he is acting as the administrator of USAID but has delegated his responsibilities to another individual. This transition marks a significant change, as USAID will be transitioned from its status as an independent government agency to a part of the State Department, a transformation that may face legal challenges.
Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland condemned the actions as an “illegal power grab” and described the maneuver as “a corrupt abuse of power.” He further emphasized, “Not only is it a gift to our adversaries, but attempting to eliminate the Agency for International Development through executive order is flat-out illegal.”
This turmoil follows Trump’s directive to freeze foreign assistance, wreaking havoc worldwide. The United States, recognized as the largest provider of humanitarian aid globally, has disrupted decades-long policies that prioritized humanitarian aid, development initiatives, and security support as pivotal components in establishing alliances and countering adversaries such as China and Russia.
Numerous U.S. and international organizations have been required to halt tens of thousands of projects globally, resulting in widespread layoffs and financial difficulties, leaving many concerned that the aid community may be irreparably harmed by the funding freeze, even if it were to end. Other organizations have been forced into bankruptcy after being informed that USAID would not be honoring contracts for already approved international projects.
Democratic leaders rallied outside the USAID headquarters for a press conference, providing the most vocal resistance since Trump took office last month. They anticipate a wave of legal actions against the Trump administration in the near future. Their attempts to enter the agency’s offices to discuss pending changes were met with denial of entrance.
Concerns were raised regarding Trump’s constitutional authority to dissolve USAID without the consent of Congress, and lawmakers criticized Musk’s interaction with sensitive government operations via his sanctioned inspections of federal entities.
Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii articulated that USAID’s mission extends beyond emergency aid; “There’s a strategic reason behind USAID being a part of American foreign policy — it’s based on the understanding that a stable global environment translates to a stable America.”
Reports from USAID employees indicated that over 600 additional workers found themselves unable to access agency computer systems late one night. Those still connected received notification via email announcing that, under “Agency leadership’s direction,” the headquarters would be closed to staff on a certain date. The agency’s website disappeared without clarification shortly before.
On Monday, two State Department employees were denied entry into the USAID offices by security guards. Subsequently, uniformed officers from the Department of Homeland Security secured the lobby of the USAID headquarters, marking off access with caution tape reading “do not cross.”
Musk, overseeing a broad reassessment of federal agencies with Trump’s endorsement, stated early Monday that he had discussed the fate of the agency with Trump, who reportedly agreed with a plan to dissolve USAID. “The situation is far from fixable,” Musk remarked during a live session.
Musk, Trump, and several Republican members have increasingly criticized USAID, which operates humanitarian and development programs across about 120 nations, asserting that it promotes liberal agendas. Following Trump’s victory, numerous personnel from his first term have initiated an investigation that resulted in over 50 senior officials being placed on leave, stripping the agency of its leadership structure.
Rubio highlighted that, despite the management changes, many USAID programs would persist but emphasized the necessity for reconfiguration due to the agency’s evolving relationship with the executive branch and Congress. Over the weekend, two security officials at USAID were also placed on leave after refusing to surrender classified data to Musk’s inspection teams.
Musk’s team previously conducted an analogous operation at the Treasury Department, acquiring access to sensitive data. Reports suggest that a Treasury official resigned following these events concerning sensitive materials.
USAID has remained a focal point of the Trump administration’s initiative against various federal institutions. The U.S. allocates less than 1% of its budget for foreign assistance — a lesser percentage than many other nations. The administration’s freeze on external aid has severely Limited USAID’s global programs, halting significant initiatives, including an HIV/AIDS program established under former President George W. Bush, credited with saving millions of lives. Aid contractors have faced issues with valuable resources trapped in ports due to the inability to deliver them.
Additional programs impacted by the actions include educational support for Afghan school girls under Taliban regulation and efforts to manage an Ebola epidemic in Uganda. A crisis monitoring initiative, vital in averting the devastating famines of the 1980s in Uganda, has also ceased operations.
