Billionaire Elon Musk, who is spearheading President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting initiative, has revealed plans to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), calling the agency “beyond repair.”
Speaking in a social media discussion on X (formerly Twitter) early Monday, Musk stated that Trump supports eliminating USAID, a move that would significantly alter U.S. foreign aid policy.
The conversation included former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, and focused on the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—the cost-cutting task force Trump appointed Musk to lead.
USAID, the world’s largest humanitarian donor, provided $72 billion in aid in 2023, funding women’s health services, clean water projects, HIV/AIDS treatment, and anti-corruption efforts. The agency was responsible for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.
Trump has already ordered a freeze on most U.S. foreign aid as part of his “America First” policy, jeopardizing critical programs such as field hospitals in Thai refugee camps and landmine removal in conflict zones.
Over the weekend, USAID’s official website went offline, fueling speculation that the agency is already being dismantled. USAID employs more than 10,000 staff members, many of whom now face uncertainty about their future.
Musk’s deepening involvement in government operations has drawn scrutiny. Reuters reported that over the weekend, two top security officials at USAID were removed after allegedly attempting to block Musk’s team from accessing restricted agency areas.
Further concerns arose after a New York Times report revealed Musk’s potential access to the U.S. Treasury system, which processes over $6 trillion annually in federal payments, including Social Security, tax refunds, and other government disbursements.
While Musk and his supporters argue that dismantling USAID aligns with efforts to reduce government waste, critics warn that cutting aid could have devastating global consequences and raise serious national security implications.
As uncertainty grows, the fate of USAID and U.S. foreign aid policy now rests on Trump’s final decision—one that could reshape America’s role in international humanitarian efforts.