Elon Musk Calls for USAID to Be Shut Down Amid Security Dispute
Elon Musk has called for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to be dismantled after two top security officials were placed on leave for blocking his team from accessing classified areas.
Musk, appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accused USAID of corruption and wrote on X: “Time for it to die.”
The agency’s director of security, John Voorhees, and deputy Brian McGill were suspended after refusing DOGE personnel entry to restricted areas at USAID’s Washington headquarters due to their lack of security clearances. Reports indicate that DOGE members later gained access, raising concerns about unauthorized exposure to sensitive information.
White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed claims that DOGE attempted to access classified material as “fake news.” However, DOGE official Katie Miller acknowledged the incident, insisting no classified materials were accessed without proper clearance.
Fears Over USAID’s Future
Trump’s administration has frozen nearly all foreign aid, leading to speculation that USAID could be dismantled or absorbed into the State Department. The agency’s website went offline, replaced by a stripped-down page under the State Department’s site.
Senator Chris Coons criticized the move, stating, “These are patriotic Americans who promote our leadership around the world. Trump makes us less safe.”
Concerns are also growing over Musk’s influence in government. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it a “five-alarm fire,” warning, “The people elected Donald Trump, not Elon Musk.”
Meanwhile, Trump pledged to cut off all U.S. aid to South Africa in response to its land reform policies. The U.S. allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023.
With USAID overseeing over $72 billion in global aid, any major shake-up could significantly impact international assistance programs.