The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which includes president advisor Elon Musk, requested President Donald Trump to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) soon after taking office. President Trump greenlighted the idea, and members of USAID were put on administrative leave as of February 23, 2025.
Musk reported that the USAID is “beyond repair” and that they’re just shutting it down completely because it it is a waste of money, spending $40 billion in 2023, which, according to the AP, is 1% of the U.S. budget. Three U.S. officials stated how they are now trying to merge the USAID with the State Department, significantly cutting the workforce. However, as the purpose of the USAID is to provide aid, it is reported that this will still contain it as a humanitarian aid entity.
Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office stating he likes the “concept of the USAID”, but they are a “group of lunatics.” He did not provide many details towards that claim.
Musk responded to a post on his social media platform X, saying, “USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die,” He then followed with additional posts about the aid agency.
Since the reports and announcement, the USAID’s website vanished, replaced with a notice that all “as of 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally,” and gave instructions on how to retrieve personal items from the office. Most of the USAID staffers were cut off from their system and email access with no communication about their employment status or what is expected of them.
What is the USAID?
The USAID overseas security programs, development, and humanitarian efforts in 120 countries around the globe. the USAID “provides assistance to strategically important countries and countries in conflict; leads U.S. efforts to alleviate poverty, disease and humanitarian need; and assists U.S. commercial interests by supporting developing countries’ economic growth.”
The USAID was created by President J.F.K. in 1961 during the Cold War. According to NBC News, this was “based on the idea that American security was tied to stability and economic advancements in other nations.”
Currently, the top 10 countries to receive aid from the USAID are :Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, Congo, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Syria.
What does this mean for the employees?
The Chief of Staff for the USAID, Matt Hopson, at the beginning of February following Musk and Trump’s comments. Two USAID staff members stated they never got official word on why; however, the staffers said it was after Hopson’s involvement in blocking DOGE officials from accessing over the weekend, which he did alongside two other security staff. Musk also commented in an X space session that two top security chiefs at the USAID are on leave: Director for Security John Vorhees and Deputy Director for Security Brian McGill were put on leave.
The agency employs over 10,000 people.
