Elon Musk has launched a fierce attack on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), calling it a “criminal organization.” This move comes as President Donald Trump voiced his concerns about the agency, labeling it “run by radical lunatics” and suggesting that he may reconsider its future role.
This bold statement marks a new chapter in Trump’s efforts to restructure government agencies, aiming to reduce what he and Musk see as excessive spending and overreach by the government.
On Sunday, Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, took to his social media platform, X, to claim that USAID was involved in “rogue CIA work,” referencing a video that made the accusation. He followed this up with another post questioning whether USAID used taxpayer dollars to fund bioweapon research, including Covid-19, which he claimed resulted in millions of deaths. Musk did not provide evidence for these claims, which have been linked by some sources to Russian disinformation.
In parallel, President Trump criticized USAID, stating that it had been “run by a bunch of radical lunatics” and that the agency would be removed. Trump did not go into further detail, but reiterated his support for Musk, praising the billionaire for his work.
Previously, Trump had frozen all aid spending for three months, though waivers were later issued to allow for the continuation of food and humanitarian aid. The future of USAID, an independent agency with a $42.8 billion budget for global humanitarian efforts, remains uncertain.
Sources indicate that Trump is considering merging USAID with the State Department. Musk echoed this sentiment, claiming that Trump agreed that the agency should be shut down. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aims to reduce federal spending and streamline operations, focusing on eliminating waste and fraud.
Musk, who leads DOGE as part of the executive office of the president, is not a federal employee or a government official, which raises questions about the accountability of the department. Despite this, Musk has been pushing for significant changes in federal spending, including cutting down the national deficit. He has stated that if the deficit could be reduced and economic growth is aligned, inflation could be avoided.
Concerns have emerged about the involvement of Musk’s DOGE in accessing classified documents. Reports surfaced that two senior USAID officials were put on forced leave after blocking DOGE staff from accessing sensitive materials.
The debate over Musk’s involvement in government decisions has sparked controversy, with some critics questioning the idea of an unelected billionaire influencing national policies and security. Democratic leaders like Senator Chris Murphy and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have voiced concerns, arguing that Musk’s actions could pose a national security risk. They contend that decisions about government agencies should be made by elected officials, not private individuals with personal motives.