Trump and Musk Face Backlash Over USAID Shutdown and Humanitarian Impact

Trump Administration and Elon Musk Target USAID

In a decisive move, the Trump administration and billionaire ally Elon Musk moved to eradicate the agency responsible for providing essential aid in education, combating hunger, epidemics, and poverty overseas. This action has ignited a confrontation with congressional Democrats, who have criticized the measure as unlawful and have pledged to fight it in court.

Democrats Attempt to Challenge the Shutdown

In a significant pushback against President Donald Trump’s bid to slash and reshape the federal government, Democratic lawmakers tried on Monday to access the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Their efforts were halted by officers who prevented them from even reaching the lobby, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared himself the acting administrator of the agency despite its half-century status as an independent body.

During Trump's first three weeks in office, he has been implementing extensive changes to the federal government, with USAID being a particularly contentious focal point. Democrats argue that this effort exemplifies the extensive influence Musk wields in Washington.

Elon Musk publicly stated on X, “Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”

Within weeks, a substantial portion of the agency was disassembled—operations and expenditures halted, leadership and staff reduced through furloughs, terminations, and disciplinary leaves, and the agency's website removed. Lawmakers have reported that the agency’s computer servers were removed.

Trump stated on Monday that the closure of USAID "should have been done a long time ago." When questioned about the need for Congressional approval, he expressed doubts about its necessity.

Democratic lawmakers, bolstered by a few hundred supporters, committed to acting outside USAID headquarters, which was secured by federal officers and yellow tape shortly after Musk announced, “We’re shutting it down.”

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, remarked, “This is a constitutional crisis we are in today,” highlighting the severity of the situation.

Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin added, “We don’t have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk. And that’s going to become real clear.”

USAID’s Global Operations Severely Affected

The sweeping cuts enforced by Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency have led to thousands of USAID employees being laid off and programs being curtailed worldwide in the two weeks following Trump's inauguration and the imposition of a comprehensive freeze on foreign assistance. As the largest global provider of humanitarian aid, these developments have disrupted decades of U.S. policy focused on humanitarian, development, and security assistance to build alliances and counter nations like China and Russia.

Republicans have targeted the U.S. foreign assistance program, alleging wastefulness and the promotion of liberal social initiatives, despite the U.S. allocating less than 1% of its budget to foreign aid—a smaller proportion than some other nations. Trump has accused the Biden administration of fraud without presenting evidence, promising only a report in the future.

He stated to reporters in the Oval Office, “They went totally crazy, what they were doing and the money they were giving to people that shouldn’t be getting it and to agencies and others that shouldn’t be getting it, it was a shame, so a tremendous fraud.”

Democrats Push Back

Lawmakers attempted to enter USAID offices in Washington to engage with remaining staff regarding the agency's dismantling. However, Department of Homeland Security officers identifying as USAID personnel blocked their entry, with one officer stating, “Elon Musk’s not here.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland labeled the action an “illegal power grab” and described it as “a corrupt abuse of power.”

He further stated, “It’s not only a gift to our adversaries, but trying to shut down the Agency for International Development by executive order is plain illegal.”

Democrats have indicated that legal challenges are underway and have vowed to obstruct the confirmation of Trump’s State Department nominees until the shutdown is reversed. However, with Democrats holding a minority in both the House and Senate following last November’s elections, their ability to influence outcomes is constrained.

Musk declared the agency’s closure early Monday while Secretary Rubio was absent on a trip to Central America. In a statement to reporters in San Salvador, Rubio confirmed his role as acting administrator of USAID but indicated he had delegated his authority to Peter Marocco, a political appointee. Marocco's previous tenure at USAID was marked by significant staff protests over program reductions and investigations that allegedly hindered operational efficiency.

Consequences of the Shutdown

USAID's closure has had far-reaching effects on its operations worldwide. Many programs, including a notable HIV/AIDS initiative initiated by President George W. Bush, credited with saving millions of lives in Africa and other regions, have been terminated. Aid contractors have reported millions of dollars in medication and supplies stuck at ports, unable to be delivered.

Other halted programs encompass educational initiatives for Afghan girls under Taliban rule and efforts to monitor an Ebola outbreak in Uganda. A USAID-supported crisis monitoring program, which played a crucial role in preventing a recurrence of the 1980s famine in Uganda that resulted in up to 1.2 million deaths, has also gone offline.

Organizations reliant on USAID funding have faced financial crises, with some filing for bankruptcy after being notified that USAID would not honor previously approved project invoices worldwide.

Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii emphasized the importance of USAID, stating, “There is a reason that USAID is an arm of American foreign policy, and it is because we understand that a stable world means a stable America.”

Recent Developments and Security Measures

Recent reports indicate that over 600 USAID employees were locked out of the agency’s computer systems overnight. Internal communications directed all personnel to vacate the headquarters building on Monday, February 3. Additionally, the agency’s website was taken offline without prior notification.

Musk is spearheading a significant civilian review of the federal government with Trump’s backing. During an X Spaces live session, Musk announced that after extensive discussions, Trump agreed to the agency’s shutdown.

He further elaborated, “It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm in it. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.”

Since Trump's inauguration, appointees from his previous term, including Marocco, have placed over 50 senior USAID officials on leave for investigations without public rationale, leading to a leadership vacuum. An attempt by the personnel chief to reinstate these officials resulted in his own suspension.

Over the weekend, the Trump administration placed two top security officials at USAID on leave after they declined to provide classified materials to Musk’s inspection teams, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Musk’s DOGE initiative previously executed a similar operation at the Treasury Department, gaining access to sensitive data including Social Security and Medicare systems. The Washington Post reported a senior Treasury official resigned following Musk’s team accessing sensitive information.