WASHINGTON — Recently submitted affidavits from employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reveal that a lieutenant of Elon Musk, a notable supporter of former President Donald Trump, along with other external influences, has initiated the abrupt cancellation of numerous American aid and foreign assistance programs worldwide. This action occurred without the necessary documentation or justification, according to the reports.
These affidavits also highlight the alarming situation faced by some USAID staff stationed overseas, who found themselves in precarious circumstances as Musk and Trump’s political appointees dismantled USAID’s structure by removing numerous officials from their posts. In one instance, workers stationed in Congo had to organize and finance their own emergency evacuations back to the U.S., as local unrest and looting threatened their safety and property during a period of rising political turbulence. Meanwhile, back in Washington, disorder prevailed at the USAID headquarters.
The accounts, presented in support of a legal action from two employee associations, provide a rare glimpse into the confusion enveloping the agency and abroad, revealing Musk’s teams, operating from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, as they oversaw the eradication of longstanding U.S. aid and development initiatives. The associations seek to counteract the dismantling efforts by the administration and Musk’s budget-slashing campaign.
A scheduled court hearing regarding the case was postponed due to severe snow in the Washington area. On Monday, USAID contract officials reached out to higher administration levels via email, requesting the necessary authorizations for canceling programs overseas. However, instead of receiving a response from USAID leadership, the reply came from an associate of Musk, as noted by one contract worker in a sworn statement submitted to the federal court.
The contract worker reported that decisions to cease the programs originated from the “most senior levels” within the administration. Additional affidavits illustrated the mounting tensions among agency contract officers, as they grappled with the unexpected shutdown. On Wednesday, USAID employees continued to receive spreadsheets detailing U.S. funding programs—including those aimed at agriculture, conflict resolution, and human rights—that were to be halted immediately and permanently, as confirmed by two officials familiar with the situation who requested anonymity.
The communications indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had authorized the cancellations; however, the orders came from individuals unfamiliar to staff members. Decisions about which programs to terminate seemed to be made based on brief descriptions from the USAID payment systems, according to the two officials. In the administration’s defense of its actions filed in the lawsuit, it characterized USAID as being filled with “insubordination” and asserted that a shutdown was necessary while Trump’s team deliberated on what components to preserve. This viewpoint was expressed by Pete Marocco, deputy USAID administrator, in an affidavit.
In response, USAID employees refuted allegations of insubordination, claiming that such accusations serve as a guise to dismantle the agency, which is considered one of the largest contributors to global humanitarian and developmental assistance. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, nominated by Trump, provided a temporary setback for the administration last week by pausing plans to significantly reduce USAID staffing globally.
Judicial proceedings are scheduled later this week where arguments will be presented concerning requests from employee groups to extend the pause on putting thousands of staff on leave, as they argue the administration has already breached the judge’s order. This order previously reinstated staff members who had been placed on leave but did not halt the freeze on foreign assistance programs.
Documents filed by the government reveal ongoing efforts by the administration to challenge criticisms posed by Vice President JD Vance and others regarding judicial oversight of Trump’s authority. Their legal representatives maintained that the “President’s powers in the domain of foreign affairs are typically expansive and beyond judicial review.”
Supporters of USAID argue that the agency’s humanitarian and developmental efforts are vital for national security. They claim that the administration’s moves to dismantle USAID are unduly harsh on its extensive workforce and detrimental for countless individuals worldwide who are now stripped of essential resources such as clean water, medical care, education, and training since Trump enacted an executive order on January 20 that temporarily froze foreign assistance.
The American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees maintain that Trump does not possess the legal authority to dismantle the agency without congressional approval. This stance is echoed by Democratic lawmakers who have voiced similar objections.
