Summary:
- Elon Musk labels USAID a “criminal organization” on X, alleging unproven ties to COVID-19 bioweapon research, echoing Russian disinformation claims.
- Donald Trump backs Musk’s cost-cutting agenda, vows to remove USAID’s leadership, and considers merging the agency into the State Department.
- USAID faces operational chaos as Musk’s DOGE auditors clash with officials over classified data access, prompting suspensions and security concerns.
- Democrats condemn Musk’s influence, with AOC warning of national security risks and Sen. Murphy decrying USAID’s “total destruction.”
Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump launched unprecedented attacks on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with Musk calling it a “criminal organization” and Trump declaring it “run by radical lunatics” during remarks on Sunday. The coordinated criticism signals potential drastic changes to the $42.8 billion humanitarian agency as Musk expands his oversight role through the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk amplified conspiracy theories about USAID’s activities through his X platform, claiming without evidence that the agency “funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people” – allegations previously linked by officials to Russian disinformation campaigns. Trump echoed the rhetoric, stating his administration is “getting them out… and then we’ll make a decision on its future,” while praising Musk’s cost-cutting approach despite occasional disagreements.
The controversy escalated as CNN reported two senior USAID security officials were placed on forced leave after blocking DOGE staff from accessing classified documents, staff files, and secure systems during audits. Musk’s DOGE – operating without congressional approval or clear accountability – has faced criticism for overreach, with PBS documenting attempts to enter restricted government areas.
“The people elected Donald Trump to be President – not Elon Musk,” wrote Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, warning that “having an unelected billionaire… raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security.”* Democratic Senator Chris Murphy condemned the “total destruction” of an agency that delivers global food aid and disaster relief.
USAID’s X account remains disabled, and its website is offline amid the turmoil. While Trump initially froze all aid spending for three months, current waivers allow continued food and humanitarian assistance – though aid workers report operational paralysis. The agency’s independence hangs in the balance as Trump considers merging it into the State Department, a move that would require congressional approval.
Musk’s midnight X broadcast promises updates on DOGE’s government efficiency drive, which has already drawn comparisons to authoritarian tactics after his recent far-right European engagements and a controversial raised-arm gesture. With 215 million X followers amplifying unsubstantiated claims, the partnership between Trump and Musk continues testing institutional guardrails while reshaping federal operations.
Source: TBS News
