Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who leads President Donald Trump's federal cost-cutting initiative, announced plans to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of a broader effort to shrink the government.
Speaking on a social media talk on X early Monday, Musk described USAID as "beyond repair" and confirmed that President Trump supports the decision. Musk, who also heads Tesla and SpaceX, was joined in the discussion by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee.
The move comes as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the panel Musk leads to identify federal budget cuts. USAID, the world’s largest single donor, disbursed $72 billion in global assistance in fiscal year 2023, supporting programs ranging from women’s health and clean water to HIV/AIDS treatment and anti-corruption efforts.
Musk claimed the administration could cut $1 trillion from the U.S. deficit next year, citing alleged fraud in foreign aid, though he provided no evidence to support his claims.
The announcement follows reports that the Trump administration removed two top security officials at USAID over the weekend after they resisted DOGE representatives' attempts to access restricted areas within the agency.
USAID’s website remains offline, and concerns are mounting over the fate of critical humanitarian programs. Trump's "America First" policy, which includes a global freeze on most U.S. foreign aid, has raised alarms internationally, with refugee aid, landmine clearance, and HIV treatments at risk of elimination.
Musk’s expanding influence over government systems, including reported access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment infrastructure, has sparked criticism from lawmakers. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, condemned Musk's access as a "gross abuse of power" and called for greater transparency.
Despite the backlash, Trump continues to back Musk's leadership. "He's a big cost-cutter," Trump said on Sunday. "Sometimes we won't agree with it... but I think he's doing a great job. He's a smart guy. Very smart."
Musk’s team has also reportedly taken control of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), locking career civil servants out of systems containing sensitive data on millions of federal employees.
Since returning to office 11 days ago, Trump has initiated a sweeping overhaul of the federal government, dismissing hundreds of civil servants and installing loyalists across key agencies.
Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk, facilitated a call between his son and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday after Trump accused South Africa of land seizures and threatened to cut $400 million in U.S. aid.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Elon Musk for using his media influence to interfere in global affairs and support far-right movements, expressing concern over its impact on democracy in Europe.
Elon Musk sparks controversy with far-right gestures, attacks on German Chancellor Scholz at Davos; EU probes X for content moderation breaches amid rising tensions.
A SpaceX Starship exploded minutes after launch from Texas, forcing airline reroutes over the Gulf of Mexico and setting back Elon Musk’s rocket program.
Elon Musk deploys Cybertrucks with Starlink WiFi, power hubs, and supplies across wildfire-hit Los Angeles and Malibu. Supporting residents and emergency services, they aid communication and power access amid evacuations, deadly fires, and worsening conditions.
A U.S. military plane carrying illegal Indian immigrants landed in India's northern city of Amritsar on Wednesday, deporting an unspecified number of people as part of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.
The Kremlin has declined to comment on a preliminary report on the investigation of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 tragic crash and suggested waiting for final report.
Santorini shaken by ongoing tremors for six days, prompting thousands of tourists to evacuate. Authorities implement safety measures as seismic activity continues, raising fears of a major earthquake.
The U.S. Department of Defense is developing plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, NBC News reported on Wednesday, citing two U.S. defense officials.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has released the preliminary report on the investigation on Azerbaijan Airlines's flight J2-8243's tragic crash. Read excerpts from the report and watch AnewZ's complete coverage.
An American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.
The U.S. has officially entered a new trade war. President Donald Trump has slapped 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, citing immigration and drug trafficking concerns. The move has immediate consequences for businesses and consumers—so what happens next?
A U.S. military plane carrying illegal Indian immigrants landed in India's northern city of Amritsar on Wednesday, deporting an unspecified number of people as part of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.
Santorini shaken by ongoing tremors for six days, prompting thousands of tourists to evacuate. Authorities implement safety measures as seismic activity continues, raising fears of a major earthquake.
Belgian police are searching for suspects after a shooting near Clemenceau metro station in Brussels early Wednesday. Multiple stations have been closed, but no injuries were reported. Investigators are probing possible drug-related links.
French President Emmanuel Macron denied any “agreement” or “collusion” with the Swiss company Nestlé over the bottled water scandal.
A U.S. military plane carrying illegal Indian immigrants landed in India's northern city of Amritsar on Wednesday, deporting an unspecified number of people as part of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.
The Kremlin has declined to comment on a preliminary report on the investigation of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 tragic crash and suggested waiting for final report.
Santorini shaken by ongoing tremors for six days, prompting thousands of tourists to evacuate. Authorities implement safety measures as seismic activity continues, raising fears of a major earthquake.
The U.S. Department of Defense is developing plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, NBC News reported on Wednesday, citing two U.S. defense officials.
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