The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, is targeting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and, according to top congressional sources, attempted to grab control of the independent agency over the weekend.
According to top congressional sources, more than 50 senior USAID staff members were placed on administrative leave and subjected to a gag order, which prohibited them from communicating with anybody outside the agency without consent.
Signs were also removed from USAID’s headquarters at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., and the DOGE team took control of the computer systems, according to sources. USAID is in charge of providing civilian foreign aid and development assistance to countries across the world.
The Congressional Research Service estimates that the agency processed around $40 billion in appropriations last year.
On Sunday, during a brief contact with reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, President Donald Trump praised Musk’s decision-making. When asked if he thought Musk was “delivering on his promises,” the president answered with high praise.
“I think Elon is doing a good job,” Trump stated. “He’s a major cost-cutter. We don’t always agree with him and won’t go where he wants, but I think he’s doing an excellent job. He’s a highly brilliant individual who wants to lower our federal government’s budget.”
According to The Associated Press, the Trump administration placed two top security officials at USAID on leave after they refused to pass over sensitive documents in restricted locations to DOGE.
DOGE was first denied access to USAID’s confidential material, but they were granted access on Saturday, allowing them to view intelligence reports, according to a current and former US official.
Because the DOGE team members lacked the necessary security clearance to view the material, the two USAID security officers, John Voorhees and subordinate Brian McGill, thought they were legally bound to refuse access.
On Sunday, Musk attacked USAID on his social media site X, saying, “USAID is a criminal organization.” It’s time for it to die.
He has made numerous additional blogs criticizing the organization, including “USAID was a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and “USAID is evil.”
The latter was in reaction to a post alleging that USAID funded coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, which referenced to an April 2023 exchange between Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and now-former USAID Administrator Samantha Power on Forbes.
Trump reiterated Musk’s comments, claiming USAID is managed by “a bunch of radical lunatics” and his government is “getting them out.”
According to ABC News, individuals acquainted with USAID are asking whether the agency’s changes are being undertaken in an effort to bring it under the State Department, where there may be more responsibility.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., took to social media on Sunday to criticize the “dismantling” of USAID.
“Trump and Musk are recklessly and illegally dismantling USAID, an essential national security agency that saves lives, advances U.S. interests, and promotes peace,” Booker stated in an email. “Their malicious actions are putting the health of people, especially children, at grave risk, and will surely lead to future public health and migration crises in the U.S. – let alone suffering around the globe.”
Last week, at least 56 USAID personnel were placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits, while hundreds of contractors in Washington and overseas were laid off.
The moves occurred after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acting on Trump’s executive order, suspended all US foreign aid financed by or via the State Department and USAID.
The 90-day embargo has disrupted thousands of US-funded humanitarian, development, and security activities throughout the world, forcing assistance groups to lay off hundreds of staff who are unable to make payment.
