In a dramatic turn of events, American billionaire and X (formerly Twitter) owner, Elon Musk, has called for the dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), branding it a “criminal organization.” His remarks come amid President Donald Trump’s aggressive move to freeze USAID funding and place dozens of its employees on leave.
Taking to his official X handle, Musk reacted to reports that the Trump administration is planning to shut down USAID, stating unequivocally, “USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die.” His statement has intensified an already heated debate over the future of the agency, which has been a major pillar of U.S. humanitarian and development assistance worldwide.
The controversy began after reports surfaced that Trump had agreed with Musk on the need to shut down USAID. According to CNN, Musk claimed he personally discussed the issue with Trump multiple times, with the former president confirming his desire to dismantle the agency.
The move follows days of speculation after USAID’s funding was frozen, and several of its senior officials were placed on leave. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a unit overseeing administrative reforms—reportedly faced resistance from USAID officials while attempting to access the agency’s systems.
It was gathered that two high-ranking USAID officials, John Voorhees and his deputy, were put on leave for blocking DOGE members from accessing classified security and personnel files. An X user, @AutismCapital, claimed on Sunday that the standoff escalated to the point where DOGE members threatened to call the police over the obstruction.
According to @AutismCapital:
“Federal officials are concerned that Trump is trying to fold USAID into the US State Department in an effort to cut government corruption and bloat. USAID employs approximately 10,000 people, excluding contractors, with two-thirds of them overseas. Sixty USAID members were already put on leave last week after trying to circumvent President Trump’s executive order on stopping foreign aid.”
Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, President Trump did not hold back his criticism of USAID, stating:
“It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out. Then we’ll make a decision on its future.”
This announcement aligns with Trump’s broader policy of cutting foreign aid, which has already led to a temporary freeze on most new USAID funding, with exceptions granted to key U.S. allies like Israel and Egypt.
The decision has triggered widespread concern among international humanitarian organizations, who warn that cutting USAID funding could lead to severe global consequences. Oxfam America’s President, Abby Maxman, condemned the move, saying:
“By suspending foreign development assistance, the Trump administration is threatening the lives and futures of communities in crisis and abandoning the United States’ long-held bipartisan approach to foreign aid.”
Similarly, Al Jazeera reported that newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a memo instructing officials to halt new obligations for foreign assistance “to the maximum extent permitted by law.”
The temporary freeze is expected to last for at least three months, with further decisions pending a broader review of USAID’s operations.
As the battle over USAID’s future intensifies, the Trump administration’s stance on foreign aid remains firm, with Musk’s endorsement adding fuel to the fire. With thousands of USAID employees and global aid programs now in limbo, the question remains: Is this the beginning of the end for the agency, or will political and humanitarian pressure force a reversal?
For now, the world watches as one of America’s most influential aid organizations faces an uncertain fate.
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