WASHINGTON — The potential closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is reportedly on the horizon, according to remarks made by billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been advocating for oversight of the agency amidst ongoing discussions with the Trump administration.
On Monday morning, Musk participated in a live session on X Spaces, previously recognized as Twitter Spaces, where he expressed that he had detailed conversations regarding USAID with the president. Musk stated, “He agreed we should shut it down,” indicating the administration’s alignment with his views.
Describing the agency, Musk remarked, “It became apparent that it’s not just 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 confirmed that this process will lead to the agency’s dissolution.
This assertion follows the administration’s decision to put two senior security officials at USAID on leave after they declined to hand over classified information to inspection teams aligned with Musk’s administration. According to sources, USAID’s classified resources, encompassing intelligence reports, were made accessible by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team over the weekend.
Reports indicate that the DOGE personnel did not possess the necessary security clearances to access such information. Consequently, the two officials—John Voorhees and deputy Brian McGill—maintained that they were legally obligated to deny access due to security protocols. Insiders familiar with the events chose to remain anonymous to protect the sensitivity of the information.
On Sunday, Musk reacted to an online post regarding this matter by labeling USAID as a “criminal organization” and asserting it was time for the agency to end. He subsequently made further posts concerning the agency’s operations.
In addition, Kate Miller, an adviser to DOGE, asserted that no classified data was accessed without requisite security clearances. This incident occurred shortly after a similar event at the Treasury Department, where Musk’s team gained entry to sensitive data, impacting systems related to Social Security and Medicare payments. A senior official at the Treasury reportedly resigned in response to this access.
Musk established DOGE in partnership with the Trump administration, aiming to streamline federal operations by reducing personnel, cutting programs, and diminishing regulatory constraints. USAID, which remained a focal point for the administration’s changes, saw its website disappear without prior notice this past Saturday amid a wider government crackdown. Trump’s critical comments underscored the administration’s stance: “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics. And we’re getting them out.”
The Trump administration has implemented an unprecedented halt on foreign assistance, severely impacting USAID’s humanitarian, developmental, and security initiatives globally. This freeze has led to widespread layoffs and significant reductions in agency leadership and personnel in Washington. As the largest contributor to humanitarian aid worldwide, the United States relies on USAID to manage billions in contributions across over 100 nations.
Peter Marocco, who returned as a political appointment from Trump’s earlier term, focused on enforcing shutdown measures. Meanwhile, USAID employees have reported interactions with individuals sporting visitor badges, believed to be members of Musk’s DOGE team questioning agency staff.
In light of these developments, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns about Musk’s access to personal information and the implications of shutting down government support. “We must do everything in our power to push back and protect people from harm,” she emphasized, although she did not elaborate further.
