What is the USAID? The US agency who closed their headquarters after Musk and Trump plan to 'shut it down'
Musk claims that the Trump administration plans to shut down USAID, the main U.S. humanitarian aid agency. According to a post on his X account, the president supports its elimination amid cuts to federal programs.
Elon Musk stated that the Trump administration would shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) after employees were instructed to stay home on Monday amid uncertainty about the agency's future.
The billionaire Trump adviser's comments came during a period of turmoil, following the suspension of two top security officials. Additionally, the agency’s website has been down since January, 31st.
Elon Musk calls USAID ‘A can of worms'
Over the past week, Musk has strongly criticized USAID while seeking to assert control over the agency.
On X, the social media platform he owns, he called USAID "evil" and a "criminal organization." During a live stream on X early Monday, he told his followers, "You've got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It's beyond repair. ... We're shutting it down."
"We're getting them out," he said, "and then we'll make a decision."
However, President Trump was less conclusive about closing USAID, telling reporters on Sunday night that the agency was run by "a bunch of radical lunatics."
Employees at USAID’s Washington, D.C., headquarters were told to stay home on Monday, and hundreds were reportedly locked out of their email accounts, according to an internal email obtained by the BBC.
There is speculation that the agency, which was created by an act of the U.S. Congress, could be brought more directly under the control of Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Republican Congressman Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Face the Nation that USAID is "likely going to be rolled more closely under Secretary Rubio."
Whether the agency is ultimately shut down or restructured, the changes pushed by Musk and Trump would have significant consequences. USAID allocates billions of dollars in aid to non-governmental organizations, humanitarian groups, and nonprofits worldwide.
Members of Doge reportedly clashed with security officials after requesting access to a highly secure area used for reviewing classified information, according to reports from The Washington Post and CNN over the weekend.
USAID's Director of Security, John Vorhees, and Deputy Director for Security, Brian McGill, were both placed on administrative leave as a result, according to CBS.
Additionally, USAID’s Chief of Staff, Matt Hopson, a top political appointee, resigned, The Washington Post reported.
What type of humanitarian aid did USAID provide?
The Trump administration claims that it has temporarily halted international assistance to assess which humanitarian, development, and security programs—among thousands of options—will continue receiving U.S. funding.
"The suspension is extremely serious. We are talking about significant funds that are difficult to replace overnight. It means the suspension of essential activities for governments receiving humanitarian assistance, but also for civil society," Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, president of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), explained to BBC Mundo.
Some services provided by USAID include reducing discrimination against Venezuelan migrants, promoting transparency in public entities, and increasing citizens' trust in the justice system.