USAID Officials Put on Leave as Elon Musk Says Time forย Agencyย toย โ€˜Dieโ€™

Elon Musk has called for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to be dismantled, branding it a “criminal organisation.” His comments came after two senior USAID security officials were put on leave for denying his representatives access to classified materials. Musk, who was appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by President Donald Trump, expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “Time for it to die.”

Security Controversy Sparks Debate

Controversy arose when the agency’s head of security prohibited DOGE staff from entering restricted areas. John Voorhees and Deputy, Brian McGill stopped DOGE staff because they did not have requisite security clearances. The task force had entered, consequently raising fears over a breach in protocol. White House communications director Steven Cheung has brushed it all off by terming the reports “fake news.” A DOGE representative later admitted that, indeed, security clearances were acquired.

USAID officials put on leave as Elon Musk says time for agency to โ€˜dieโ€™
Source: Al Jazeera

USAIDโ€™s Future in Question

Trumpโ€™s administration has already placed a freeze on most foreign aid, raising fears that USAID may face drastic cuts or even dissolution. The agencyโ€™s website temporarily went offline over the weekend and a simplified version reappeared under the Department of Stateโ€™s domain, suggesting a possible merger. Democratic Senator Chris Coons criticised these moves, arguing that USAID employees are vital to Americaโ€™s global leadership and national security.

Bipartisanship voiced concern at his deepening intervention in the affair of the government. The media reported that DOGE managed to gain entry to the federal payment system. According to these systems, the said payment network had information concerning millions of American citizens. This concerned Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as “The people elected Donald Trump to be President – not Elon Musk.”

USAID security chiefs put on leave after trying to keep DOGE from classified info | AP News
Source: AP News

Cuts in Assistance from Trump for South Africa

In a related move, Trump blocked all US assistance to South Africa, citing an issue over policies on land confiscation. This comes after the signing of the law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that allows seizing white-owned land without compensation in certain instances. The US assisted South Africa to the tune of nearly $440 million in 2023. Funding will stay frozen pending review, Trump says.

Read More:ย Elon Musk Denies Nazi Salute Accusations, Calls it a โ€˜Dirty Trickโ€™

As authorities weigh in the future of USAID, there are many questions as to how the Trump administration and Musk’s DOGE initiative will reshape US foreign aid policies. If USAID is significantly downsized or dismantled, the global implications could be far-reaching.

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Usman Kashmirwala
Your thoughts are your biggest asset in this world and as a content writer, you get a chance to pen down these thoughts and make them eternal. I am Usman Kashmirwala, apart from being a movie maniac, car geek and a secret singer, I am a guy lucky enough to be working in a profession that allows me to showcase my opinions and vision to the world every day and do my little part in making it a better place for all of us.