WASHINGTON — On Monday, staff members at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were ordered to refrain from entering their Washington headquarters. Security measures, including yellow police tape and officers, cordoned off the agency’s lobby following announcements from billionaire Elon Musk that he and President Donald Trump had agreed to dismantle the agency.
Reports indicated that over 600 USAID employees were abruptly locked out of their computer systems overnight. Those who still had access received emails informing them from “Agency leadership” that the headquarters would be closed to personnel on Monday, February 3. Furthermore, the agency’s website mysteriously disappeared over the weekend without any explanation.
These swift developments follow mass layoffs and program shut-downs that have affected countless USAID workers since Trump assumed the presidency. This situation highlights the significant influence Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have gained within the Trump administration. Musk’s announcement about the agency’s closure coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio being away on an official trip to Central America.
Trump has also initiated a freeze on foreign aid, greatly impacting countries worldwide. The U.S., recognized as the largest provider of humanitarian assistance, has significantly altered longstanding policies aimed at fostering alliances and counterbalancing rival nations like China and Russia. Consequently, this has led to numerous international and American companies ceasing tens of thousands of programs, resulting in layoffs and financial strain, with many fearing that the humanitarian sector may be irreparably harmed even if funding is restored.
Democratic lawmakers have voiced objections to these actions, arguing that Trump lacks the constitutional authority to terminate USAID without Congressional approval. They have also criticized Musk for accessing sensitive government data during his audits of federal agencies. On Monday, two State Department employees attempting to enter USAID’s offices were informed by security that while the offices were technically open, entry was not permitted. The lobby was further barricaded by personnel from the Department of Homeland Security, using yellow tape stating “do not cross.”
Despite the deserted lobby, the USAID flag continued to flutter in front of the empty headquarters, with a State Department staff member saying he was there to pay his respects. Employees had managed to retrieve personal items from their offices earlier that day. Musk, earlier in the day, stated in a live session that after discussing the six-decade-old agency with Trump, they unanimously decided it should be shut down.
Musk commented on the agency’s dysfunction, likening it to “a ball of worms” and expressed that it was far beyond repair. Trump, Musk, and certain Republican lawmakers have increasingly criticized USAID, accusing it of endorsing progressive agendas while it operates humanitarian and development initiatives across 120 countries.
Following Trump’s inauguration, more than 50 senior USAID officials were placed on leave for inconclusive investigations led by appointees from his first term. Attempts made by the agency’s personnel chief to restore these officials faced setbacks as he himself was placed on leave. Over the weekend, top security officials at USAID were also put on leave after resisting Musk’s inspection requests for access to classified materials.
Previously, Musk’s DOGE conducted similar reviews at the Treasury Department, where they accessed sensitive information, prompting resignations among officials. USAID has notably become a main target of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on federal entities and their operations.
Trump expressed his disdain for USAID during a recent press interaction, stating it had been managed by “radical lunatics” and emphasized the need for change. The freeze on foreign assistance has suspended critical programs, including those developed under former Republican President George W. Bush that had saved millions of lives from HIV/AIDS. Aid agencies reported a backlog of millions of dollars worth of medications and supplies stuck at ports due to no delivery permissions.
Other vital programs at risk include those that educated girls in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and monitored Ebola outbreaks in Uganda. A USAID-supported crisis tracking initiative that previously played a key role in averting large-scale famine in the 1980s in Uganda has also been halted. On social media, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Trump for allowing Musk to access individuals’ personal information and halt government funding. She advocated for action to protect citizens from potential harm, though specifics were not provided.
