Elon Musk, leading a government efficiency initiative supported by President Donald Trump, announced Monday, February 3rd, that they are working to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
In an audio-only session on his social media platform, X, Musk revealed that he had discussed the plan with Trump multiple times. “We’re shutting it down,” Musk stated, confirming that the Trump administration had fully supported the initiative. Musk elaborated that Trump had agreed with the decision, telling him “Yes” after several discussions about the agency’s future.
USAID, which manages U.S. foreign aid programs in over 120 countries, has faced increasing scrutiny from Trump and his allies. Musk criticized the agency, referring to it as a “ball of worms” beyond repair. He argued that the organization was promoting liberal causes and must be completely dismantled.
The announcement triggered a swift response from USAID staffers, who reported being locked out of their computer systems. Others received emails instructing them to stay out of the Washington headquarters. USAID employees confirmed the building’s shutdown, noting that more than 600 individuals could not access their work remotely.
The move comes amid a broader initiative led by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has already conducted similar reviews at other federal agencies. Over the weekend, two senior security officials at USAID were placed on leave after refusing to cooperate with Musk’s inspection teams, fueling concerns about unauthorized access to sensitive government materials.
While Musk and Trump have positioned the closure as part of a larger effort to streamline the federal government, Democrats have fiercely opposed it. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) expressed concerns over Musk’s access to personal information and classified material during his inspections of federal agencies, stating, “We must do everything in our power to push back and protect people from harm.”
Democratic lawmakers argue that shutting down USAID would require congressional approval and that the Trump administration lacks the constitutional authority to make such a decision unilaterally. Despite this, the Trump administration has continued its aggressive stance on reducing the scope of federal agencies, with USAID among the most targeted.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the plan to shut down USAID.
