Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced that he and former President Donald Trump are in the process of dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Musk, who leads Trump’s government efficiency initiative, made the announcement on his social media platform, X, stating, “We’re shutting it down.” He also mentioned, “We’re in the process of shutting down USAID,” emphasizing that the decision has the “full support of the president.”
According to Musk, he has discussed the matter extensively with Trump, saying, “I went over [it] with him in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down. I actually checked with him a few times and asked, ‘Are you sure?’ and he said, ‘Yes.’”
While Trump praised Musk’s efforts on Sunday, describing him as “doing a good job,” he stopped short of explicitly confirming plans to eliminate USAID. However, he criticized the agency, claiming it is “run by a bunch of radical lunatics.”
Reports from NBC News indicate that Trump administration officials have considered bringing USAID under the State Department’s authority, a move that critics argue would violate existing laws that established the agency. Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of such actions.
Trump has also announced a freeze on nearly all U.S. foreign aid, pending a 90-day review. USAID’s budget for the 2023 fiscal year was approximately $40 billion, largely allocated for foreign aid and international humanitarian efforts, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Established in 1961 by an executive order from President John F. Kennedy following congressional approval of foreign assistance reforms, USAID has played a significant role in U.S. foreign policy for over six decades.
