WASHINGTON — Personnel at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were instructed to refrain from entering their Washington, D.C., headquarters on Monday. This directive came following billionaire Elon Musk’s announcement that former President Donald Trump had lent his support to the closure of the agency. The notification circulated among USAID employees noted that more than 600 staff members experienced lockouts from the agency’s digital systems overnight. Those who managed to access their accounts received an email informing them that the headquarters would remain closed to all agency workers for the day, as per leadership’s orders.
On Monday morning, two government employees seeking entry into USAID were denied access by security personnel. They were informed that while the offices were technically open, no one was permitted to enter. Subsequently, uniformed officers from the Department of Homeland Security cordoned off the lobby area with yellow tape, clearly marked as a restricted zone. This situation unfolded after Musk announced that he had a discussion with Trump regarding the six-decade-old U.S. aid and development agency, revealing that Trump agreed with the notion of shutting it down.
In a live session on X Spaces early that morning, Musk characterized USAID as being irreparably flawed, stating, “It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm in it. What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.” He reiterated the intent to proceed with the closure, declaring, “We’re shutting it down.” Meanwhile, the white flag of USAID continued to fly in the empty plaza outside the headquarters, where a State Department staff member expressed that they were simply there to pay respects. Early Monday, some employees had managed to gather their personal belongings from their offices despite the circumstances.
Musk, Trump, and several GOP lawmakers have increasingly criticized USAID, which administers humanitarian, development, and security initiatives across approximately 120 nations. They have accused the agency of advancing liberal agendas. Adding to the tension, over the weekend, two senior security officials at USAID were put on leave after they were unwilling to provide classified information to Musk’s inspection teams, as reported by both current and former U.S. officials.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, referred to as DOGE, previously conducted a similar operation at the Treasury Department, where they gained access to sensitive information related to Social Security and Medicare. Reports indicated that this intrusion led to the resignation of a senior Treasury official. Democratic lawmakers have voiced their objections, claiming that Trump lacks the constitutional authority to terminate USAID without congressional consent and criticizing Musk for being able to access sensitive government data during these inspections.
The disappearance of USAID’s website over the weekend added further uncertainty around the agency, which has been heavily targeted by the Trump administration amidst its ongoing efforts to modify federal operations. Trump criticized USAID in statements made to reporters, branding it as run by “a bunch of radical lunatics” and asserting efforts are underway to remove such individuals.
Musk and Trump’s announcements coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence from the country, as he was on his inaugural trip abroad. Rubio has not publicly addressed any potential plans to dismantle USAID. The Trump administration, alongside Rubio, has launched an unparalleled suspension of foreign assistance, significantly hampering many of USAID’s global aid programs and leading to numerous layoffs within aid organizations.
Peter Marocco, a political appointee returning from Trump’s first term, played a pivotal role in implementing the agency’s shutdown. USAID workers have expressed concerns over visiting personnel seen in the headquarters, suspecting they may be associated with Musk’s DOGE team.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren stated on social media that Trump is permitting Musk to access citizens’ personal information and is effectively ceasing government funding. “We must do everything in our power to push back and protect people from harm,” emphasized the Massachusetts senator, although she provided no further details on the matter.
