Elon Musk has recently become very critical of USAID, calling it a “criminal organisation” and suggesting that it should be shut down. He seems to have support from Donald Trump in this view.
This criticism comes after accusations that USAID has financed controversial activities, including research involving bioweapons that some say are linked to the COVID-19 virus.
There have also been reports of problems at USAID, with some senior officials being put on leave for not allowing access to important government systems.
USAID, or the U.S. Agency for International Development, was created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to provide help and development aid to other countries. Recently, Musk’s attacks have put the agency in a difficult position.
Musk claims that USAID used taxpayer money to support bioweapon research, which includes what he called COVID-19. However, no evidence has been publicly provided to support these claims.
The Trump administration has also been discussing the possibility of merging USAID with the State Department or even shutting it down completely.
Some senior officials at USAID were placed on leave after they refused to share classified information with Musk’s new team called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This group aims to make the government less wasteful and has been looking closely at USAID’s work.
Opinions on this situation are divided. Some people believe that Musk and the Trump administration are harming USAID’s ability to help people, and important aid programs could be at risk. Others think that changes are needed for better government efficiency and question how USAID spends money.
Democrats in Congress are worried about the legality of these actions. Senator Chris Murphy has talked about the “total destruction” of the agency.
On social media, people express different views, with some supporting Musk’s bold approach to reforming the government, while others are concerned about the potential misuse of power and access to sensitive information.
As this debate goes on, the future of USAID is unclear, which could affect U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian aid around the world.
USAID has been paying media organizations to publish their propaganda https://t.co/L3rXRt3yxy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2025
