In a sudden move, USAID workers were instructed to stay home as Elon Musk took control of the agency, leaving its future uncertain. The USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed; employees were told to stay home. Elon Musk confirmed President Trump’s support for shutting down USAID. Future foreign aid programs are to be managed by the State Department with more executive oversight.
USAID Shutdown: A Weekend Overhaul
In a shocking turn of events, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been effectively shut down. Employees of the agency received an early morning email on Monday instructing them to stay home, marking the beginning of a drastic overhaul of the organization. The email, sent by Gavin Kliger, who is assisting Elon Musk in implementing the order to cut foreign aid, left thousands of USAID staff without access to their deactivated email accounts.
The closure of USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., was accompanied by the removal of agency logos and photos from the building. The agency’s web and social media accounts have gone dark, with only a simplified version of USAID’s webpage now available on the State Department’s website. These rapid changes have left many wondering about the future of U.S. foreign aid and development assistance.
BREAKING: Trump Moves to Shut Down USAID as Musk Confirms President’s Approval
USAID workers were told to stay home Monday as the agency’s headquarters shut down, its website and social media accounts went dark, and its signs were removed. The closure comes after Elon Musk said… pic.twitter.com/0T3JE6Sq8a
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) February 3, 2025
Musk’s Role and Presidential Support
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur known for his involvement in various industries, has taken a central role in this government restructuring. Musk confirmed that the decision to shut down USAID had the full support of President Trump. In a statement that has raised eyebrows across Washington, Musk declared, “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”
“None of this could be done without the full support of the president.” – Musk This statement underscores the speed and intensity with which the changes were implemented. Over the weekend, top officials at USAID were fired, and the agency’s operations were effectively dismantled. The swift action has left many in Washington scrambling to understand the full implications of this dramatic shift in U.S. foreign aid policy.
USAID Staffers Told to Stay Home After Musk Said Trump Agreed to Shutter It https://t.co/kC0IM2Ot9H pic.twitter.com/TiFCIGY9v4
— FutureTrump2️⃣⏺2️⃣4⃣🍊 (@RealTrump2020_) February 3, 2025
State Department Takes Control
As USAID’s operations grind to a halt, the State Department has stepped in to fill the void. In a move that has significant implications for U.S. foreign policy, the State Department now has access to all of USAID’s internal documents and systems. This transfer of sensitive data and operational control marks a major shift in how foreign aid will be managed going forward.
“We have been officially informed that the US Department of State now has access to all of our internal documents and our entire suite of files, documents, everything—all of our systems.” – A USAID worker
The consolidation of foreign aid management under the State Department suggests a move towards more direct executive oversight of these programs. This restructuring could potentially lead to a more streamlined approach to foreign aid, but it also raises questions about the checks and balances that were previously in place with USAID operating as a separate entity.
Uncertain Future and Congressional Response
As the dust settles on this sudden overhaul, many questions remain unanswered. The future of ongoing USAID projects and commitments is unclear, as is the fate of the agency’s thousands of employees. Furthermore, there is significant uncertainty about how Congress will respond to these changes, especially given reports of Musk and his cryptocurrency, Dogecoin (DOGE), potentially having access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment system.
The rapid dismantling of USAID, a key player in U.S. soft power and global development efforts, is likely to have far-reaching consequences. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this will impact America’s international relations and its ability to provide humanitarian assistance around the world. The coming days and weeks will be critical as Washington grapples with the implications of this dramatic shift in foreign aid policy.
