Trump and Musk seek to dismantle USAID, sparking conflict with Democratic legislators

In a dramatic move, the Trump administration and billionaire supporter Elon Musk have initiated a campaign to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency that plays a vital role in providing educational aid, combating hunger, and addressing epidemics and poverty around the world. This action has resulted in a significant clash with Congressional Democrats, who have condemned the efforts as illegal and have expressed intentions to pursue legal challenges.

On Monday, some Democrats attempted to enter the headquarters of USAID to speak with staff regarding the agency’s disbandment but were prevented from doing so by security officers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted his role as the acting administrator of USAID, despite the agency traditionally maintaining its independence for over sixty years.

While President Trump has implemented sweeping changes to the federal government during his early presidency, the swift alterations at USAID have become particularly contentious, representing the substantial influence Musk appears to hold over Washington. Musk took to social media platform X to boast about the USAID overhaul, stating, “Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”

In just weeks, significant operations of USAID have been halted. Staff members have faced furloughs and layoffs, critical projects have been ordered to cease, and the agency’s website has been taken down, with reports emerging that USAID’s computer servers have been relocated. Trump commented, asserting that the agency’s closure “should have been done a long time ago,” indicating he did not believe Congress needed to sanction such a decision.

Democratic legislators, alongside hundreds of supporters, rallied outside USAID’s headquarters in response to the unfolding situation, where they encountered barriers set by federal officers after Musk announced, “We’re shutting it down.” Senator Chris Murphy described the scenario as a “constitutional crisis,” emphasizing that no figure, including Musk, possesses the authority for such a major governmental shift.

In the two weeks since Trump’s inauguration, thousands of USAID employees have been laid off, while the agency’s extensive foreign assistance programs have been frozen—a striking departure from decades of U.S. policy aimed at fostering alliances and countering geopolitical adversaries like China and Russia. The moves have been characterized as an attack on U.S. foreign assistance programs, which are often portrayed by Trump, Musk, and GOP lawmakers as wasteful.

The U.S. allocates about 1% of its budget to foreign aid, which is a smaller proportion compared to some other nations. Trump has claimed that the previous administration engaged in fraud, although he has not provided evidence to support this allegation, promising a report in the future instead. “They went totally crazy with the spending, giving money to those who shouldn’t receive it. It was a shame, a tremendous fraud,” Trump told reporters.

As Democrats attempted to communicate with remaining USAID staff about the agency’s dismantling, they faced resistance from Department of Homeland Security officers and individuals claiming to represent USAID. Senator Chris Van Hollen referred to the situation as an “illegal power grab” and a “corrupt abuse of power,” emphasizing that an executive order cannot simply eliminate an independent agency like USAID.

Democrats have announced plans to challenge the agency’s closure in court and are considering blocking Trump’s State Department nominations in response. However, with Democrats currently holding a minority in both chambers of Congress following the previous elections, their influence is somewhat diminished.

Musk’s announcement of USAID’s closure coincided with Rubio’s absence from the country during a trip to Central America. Upon his return, Rubio indicated that he had delegated his authority to Peter Marocco, a political appointee known for his controversial tenure within USAID during Trump’s first term, where he faced protests over proposed funding cuts.

Since its establishment by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, USAID has functioned as a critical instrument of U.S. foreign policy, especially during the Cold War to counter Soviet influence through foreign aid. The recent freeze on foreign assistance, targeting the services provided by USAID, is leading to the cessation of numerous aid programs globally, resulting in layoffs and financial hardships for international organizations.

Among the impacted programs is an HIV/AIDS initiative initiated under President George W. Bush that has been credited with saving millions of lives, now facing interruptions. Furthermore, various programs focused on providing education for girls in Afghanistan and monitoring health crises like Ebola outbreaks have been halted, and critical funding for humanitarian efforts is reportedly trapped in limbo due to the agency’s shutdown.

Senator Brian Schatz articulated that USAID’s mission extends far beyond alleviating poverty and diseases, stating, “A stable world leads to a stable America.” In light of escalating tensions, USAID reports indicate that over 600 employees were locked out of their systems, with the agency’s website vanishing without explanation.

Musk, with the approval of Trump, has embarked on a comprehensive civilian review of the federal structure, claiming on a live session that he had extensive discussions with Trump regarding the agency’s future. He concluded that the agency is “beyond repair.” The current administration continues to instigate management changes at USAID by placing key security personnel on leave after they resisted compliance in providing sensitive material to Musk’s oversight team.

These unsettling developments in government operations underline the significant impact that private interests may now exert over public agencies in the United States.