USAID on edge as Musk declares agency should 'die'

Elon Musk has called for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to be dismantled after reports surfaced that security officials at the agency blocked his team from accessing classified areas.

Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under US President Donald Trump, branded USAID a “criminal organisation” and declared, “Time for it to die,” in a post on X, formerly Twitter. His remarks come amid growing speculation that the Trump administration is preparing to eliminate or restructure the 64-year-old agency by merging it into the State Department.

USAID officials suspended over security standoff

According to multiple media reports, two senior USAID officials, Director of Security John Voorhees and his deputy, Brian McGill, were placed on administrative leave after denying DOGE representatives access to restricted areas due to their lack of security clearance.

The DOGE team reportedly attempted to access sensitive government systems over the weekend. CNN and the Associated Press reported that the group was ultimately allowed entry into classified spaces after a confrontation with USAID security personnel.

The White House has denied reports that DOGE representatives sought access to secure areas without clearance. “This is how unserious and untrustworthy the media is,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X.

However, Katie Miller, a DOGE official, appeared to acknowledge the incident, writing that “no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances.”

The standoff has heightened concerns that Trump will drastically weaken or dismantle USAID, which oversees much of the country’s foreign assistance.

USAID website goes offline

On Saturday, USAID’s official website went offline, and a stripped-down page for the agency appeared on the State Department’s website. The move fuelled speculation that the administration was preparing to fold USAID into the government agency responsible for US foreign policy.

Dozens of USAID employees have reportedly been placed on leave since the weekend. Some USAID personnel said they had lost access to their official email accounts, adding to concerns that further suspensions were imminent.

“President Trump spent two weeks harassing and laying off USAID employees, and now his team is trying to gut the agency altogether,” Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, wrote on X. “These are patriotic Americans who promote our leadership around the world. They make us safer. Trump makes us less safe.”

Jeremy Konyndyk, a former USAID official who served under President Barack Obama, warned that dismantling USAID without congressional approval would violate federal law. “If this gambit succeeds – if Trump (or Elon) can just override Congressional statutes and funding mandates, and Congress acquiesces – it’s a very dark sign … and it won’t stop at USAID,” he said.

Democrats, lawmakers raise alarm over Musk’s influence

Musk’s increasing involvement in government affairs has drawn backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that an unelected billionaire should not have access to sensitive US government operations.

“This is a five-alarm fire,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “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. This should not be a partisan issue.”

Reports over the weekend suggested that DOGE officials had also gained access to the federal payment system, which contains personal financial data of millions of Americans.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the allegations were “incredibly serious and unprecedented.” She called for an immediate inquiry into whether national security had been compromised.

Congressional Republicans have primarily supported Trump’s approach, with Representative Brian Mast of Florida saying USAID is “likely to be rolled more closely under Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio.” However, some Republicans have expressed concerns about the rapid restructuring of foreign aid.

Representative Young Kim of California warned that USAID reforms “must be done with precision and care so that America’s standing and ability to project soft power are maintained abroad.”

Trump freezes aid to South Africa over land seizures

Meanwhile, Trump announced over the weekend that he would halt all future US funding to South Africa, citing the country’s new land reform law. The legislation, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week, allows for confiscating white-owned farmland without compensation in some instances.

“The United States won’t stand for it, we will act,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the aid freeze would remain in place until a “full investigation of this situation has been completed.”

According to US government data, Washington allocated nearly $440 million in foreign assistance to South Africa in 2023. The funding supported a range of initiatives, including health care, education, and economic development.

The US is the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, distributing $72 billion to nearly 180 countries last year. More than half of that funding was channelled through USAID.

Legal challenges ahead

Trump’s attempt to weaken or dismantle USAID is expected to face legal challenges. Lawmakers and legal experts argue that the president cannot unilaterally eliminate an agency created by congressional statute.

“Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally strip USAID of its autonomy,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday.

Even without an executive order, Trump could attempt to restructure USAID by shifting its functions under the State Department, which would further complicate the legal debate.