Elon Musk launched a scathing attack on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Sunday (2 February), branding it a "criminal organisation," as Donald Trump echoed similar sentiments, calling the agency “run by radical lunatics” and stating he was contemplating its future.
The onslaught against the agency, which is responsible for humanitarian relief worldwide, marks a significant escalation in Trump’s drive to grant Musk sweeping influence over governmental affairs, reports the AFP.
The pair appear intent on dismantling what they perceive as excessive bureaucratic expenditure and unwarranted state intervention.
“USAID has been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out... and then we’ll make a decision (on its future),” Trump stated on Sunday, without providing further clarification.
Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX, who has emerged as one of Trump’s most influential allies, took to his X platform to declare, “USAID is a criminal organisation.” He made the claim in response to a video alleging the agency’s involvement in “rogue CIA work” and “internet censorship.”
In a subsequent post to his 215 million followers, Musk amplified his assertions, albeit without substantiation, writing: “Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?” He did not elaborate, though similar accusations have been dismissed by officials in the previous administration as part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Trump initially froze all foreign aid spending for three months. Although he later granted waivers allowing food and other emergency assistance to continue, aid workers have reported growing uncertainty regarding USAID’s survival as an independent entity.
USAID, an autonomous agency established by Congress, oversees a budget of $42.8 billion, allocated for global humanitarian and development aid. A senior official from a US-based organisation expressed concerns that Washington’s apparent focus on “emergency” relief is a prelude to a broader strategy to eliminate funding for other programmes.
There have been reports suggesting that Trump aims to integrate USAID into the State Department, though his administration has not responded to queries regarding such plans.
‘Total Destruction’
Musk is expected to provide an update on his controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during a midnight broadcast on X (0500 GMT). While the exact agenda remains unclear, the address could offer further insight into his unregulated attempts to scrutinise government expenditures and structures.
Since Trump’s inauguration, Musk has made headlines for his engagements with far-right groups in Europe, a controversial raised-arm gesture likened to a Nazi salute, and his criticism of the US Treasury for authorising payments on behalf of the government.
DOGE was established as part of the so-called “executive office of the president” as a temporary 18-month entity under the repurposed United States Digital Service. However, it lacks the formal status of a government department, which would require Congressional approval. Musk holds no official position within the federal government, and the agency’s accountability remains ambiguous.
According to CNN, two senior USAID security officials were placed on forced leave after denying DOGE personnel access to classified documents. These documents were part of Musk’s wide-ranging attempt to scrutinise government finances. The DOGE representatives also reportedly sought access to personnel files and security systems within USAID headquarters.
PBS has similarly reported that DOGE staff attempted to breach “secure spaces.”
Trump’s senior aide, Steven Cheung, dismissed the PBS report, posting on X: “Legitimately FAKE NEWS. Not even remotely true at all. This is how unserious and untrustworthy the media is.”
Meanwhile, USAID’s official X account has been disabled, and the agency’s website remains offline, AFP has confirmed.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy condemned what he described as the "total destruction" of the agency, while Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned of grave national security risks, stating: “The people elected Donald Trump to be President — not Elon Musk. Having an unelected billionaire, with his own foreign debts and motives, raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security.”
