
USAID faces an abrupt shutdown following Elon Musk’s controversial review, leaving employees locked out and raising security concerns.
At a Glance
- USAID staff instructed to stay out of Washington headquarters after Musk announced Trump agreed to shut down the agency
- Over 600 USAID employees locked out of the agency’s computer systems
- Musk claimed the agency was beyond repair and needed to be shut down
- Two top security chiefs at USAID placed on leave for refusing to share classified material with Musk’s inspection teams
- Democratic lawmakers argue Trump lacks authority to shut down USAID without congressional approval
USAID Headquarters Closed, Staff Locked Out
In an unexpected turn of events, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) faced an abrupt shutdown following an announcement by Elon Musk, with support from then-President Donald Trump. USAID staff were instructed to stay out of the Washington headquarters, leaving more than 600 employees unable to access their computer networks.
The directive came as a shock to many, with USAID staffers receiving a message stating, “At the direction of Agency leadership the headquarters building will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3.” This sudden closure left employees scrambling to understand the situation and its implications for their work and the agency’s ongoing projects.
Elon Musk’s scrutinizing review of USAID had raised questions regarding the agency’s effectiveness, leading to the controversial closure.
Musk claimed that the agency was beyond repair and needed to be shut down, stating, “It became apparent that its not an apple with a worm it in. What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.”
Musk further asserted that Trump had agreed to the shutdown, saying, “he agreed we should shut it down.”
This claim was echoed by Trump himself, who stated, “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics. And we’re getting them out.”
Unsurprisingly, the move drew significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers who argued congressional consent was necessary for such a drastic action. They contend that Trump lacks the authority to shut down USAID without approval from Congress, raising questions about the legality and constitutionality of the decision.
The abrupt shutdown of USAID has far-reaching implications for American foreign aid programs and global initiatives. The Trump administration’s freezing of foreign assistance has already affected USAID’s global aid programs, leading to layoffs and furloughs. This latest development threatens to further disrupt ongoing projects and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
As this agency shuts down, we’re set to learn more about its nefarious overseas work – and the wide, global reach of the CIA. Stay tuned!