Elon Musk has “shut down” the US Agency for International Development (USAID), with over 600 employees being locked out of its computer system overnight and staffers being told to avoid entering the office.
Musk and Donald Trump have agreed to suspend the agency, which they claim is “beyond repair”.
Speaking on a live discussion on X Spaces, the billionaire said: “He [Trump] agreed we should shut it down.
“It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm in it. What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair. We’re shutting it down,” he said.
Musk and Donald Trump have agreed to suspend the agency, which they claim is 'beyond repair'
Reuters
Employees woke up on Monday morning to emails instructing them not to come into the office and telling them to work remotely.
An email sent to personnel said: “Further guidance will be forthcoming.”
The USAID supports international development, primarily foreign aid and overseas charities.
In 2023, the US disbursed $72billion of assistance worldwide on everything from women's health in conflict zones to access to clean water.
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Employees woke up on Monday morning to emails instructing them not to come into the office and telling them to work remotely
Reuters
It provided 42 per cent of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.
As of 2016, the USAID reported that it had 10,235 employees on its payroll.
Musk doubled down on the attack later in a post on X, branding the agency a “criminal orgainsation” adding that it was “time for it to die”.
The billionaire said that he had discussed the decision with Trump at length. "With regard to the USAID stuff, I went over [it] with him in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down,” he said.
Trump later told reporters that USAID has 'been run by a bunch of radical lunatics'
REUTERS
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is led by Elon Musk
Getty ImagesHe said: “I checked with him a few times [and] said, 'Are you sure?'” adding that the President responded with a “yes”.
The comments come after two senior officials at USAID were suspended after they tried to stop members of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing secure systems.
DOGE members did eventually gain access to the classified information, which included personnel files and security systems, according to reports.
Trump later told reporters that USAID has "been run by a bunch of radical lunatics," adding: "We're getting them out, and then we'll make a decision."
