WASHINGTON — This week, a lieutenant of Trump ally Elon Musk, along with several external individuals, is managing the swift elimination of numerous American aid initiatives and foreign assistance programs overseas, as revealed in new affidavits from agency staff and reports from U.S. officials. These actions are taking place without the necessary documentation or justifications required for such significant moves.
Accounts from former USAID staff based in Congo describe the dismantling of their agency under the authority of both President Donald Trump and Musk, leaving many employees feeling abandoned and at risk of political violence in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. As turmoil unfolded at USAID’s headquarters, where senior leadership was ousted and funding was halted, workers and their families stationed abroad were left without support when looters invaded their homes, according to several sworn statements submitted to a federal court.
These accounts indicate that staffers fleeing the chaotic scene carried only their backpacks, now finding themselves stranded in Washington, devoid of housing or financial assistance from the agency, and facing unemployment. These affidavits, submitted in support of a lawsuit by two associations representing government employees, provide a close look at the turmoil within USAID and the uncertainty experienced by its personnel abroad. They detail how Musk’s teams at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are presiding over the dismantling of established U.S. aid and development programs. The employee groups are seeking legal recourse to reverse the actions taken by the administration and Musk’s campaign to reduce governmental expenditures.
An upcoming court session related to the case was postponed due to heavy snowfall in Washington. On Monday, emails circulated among USAID contract officers who were seeking the mandatory authorization to cease various programs overseas. However, the replies came from Musk associates, according to one contract worker’s sworn testimony presented in court. It was noted that the decisions to terminate these programs originated from the “most senior levels” within the administration.
Other staff affidavits echoed similar sentiments of confusion and anxiety as they navigated the shutdown. Fresh spreadsheets indicating the end of U.S. funding for multiple programs—including those related to agriculture, conflict resolution, democracy, and human rights—continued to appear in USAID employees’ inboxes through Wednesday. These updates came from officials unnamed in the reports, who were not authorized to disclose the developments publicly.
The emails claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had mandated these changes, but they originated from unknown personnel. It appeared decisions on which initiatives to eliminate were based on brief descriptions gleaned from USAID’s payment system.
In response to legal filings, the administration defended its actions by labeling USAID as riddled with “insubordination,” asserting that the agency’s operations must be reevaluated under Trump’s oversight to determine what aspects to retain. This defense was articulated in an affidavit submitted by Pete Marocco, the deputy USAID administrator.
USAID employees refute the notion of insubordination, denouncing it as a fabricated rationale to dismantle the agency, which is recognized as one of the largest global contributors to humanitarian and development aid.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump, recently imposed a temporary halt on plans to withdraw most USAID staff from their duties worldwide, marking a setback for the administration. Nichols is scheduled to hear further arguments later this week regarding a request from employee groups aiming to maintain a ban on the administration’s move to furlough thousands of staff, claiming violations of his previous orders.
Moreover, a government motion illustrates that the administration is pursuing arguments from Vice President JD Vance and others regarding the extent of judicial oversight over Trump’s executive powers. Government lawyers have asserted that “The President’s powers in the realm of foreign affairs are generally vast and unreviewable.”
Supporters of USAID contend that its humanitarian and developmental efforts are crucial to U.S. national security. They argue that the administration’s dismantling of the agency has inflicted undue hardship on its extensive workforce and has severely impacted vulnerable populations worldwide, who have been deprived of essential services such as clean water, medical care, and education since Trump enacted an executive order on January 20, ceasing foreign aid.
The American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees maintain that Trump lacks the necessary authority to dissolve the agency without congressional consent, a point echoed by Democratic lawmakers.
