Elon Musk, the South African billionaire, has announced that the end of USAID is approaching. Musk made this statement during a group conversation on the social media platform X, which he owns.
As the world’s richest man, Musk has been tasked by the new President Trump to reduce the size and spending of the U.S. government. In the online discussion with fellow Republican politicians, Musk stated that the aid organization is “beyond saving,” and claimed Trump agrees it should be shut down.
Earlier, Musk made unsubstantiated claims on X about USAID funding biological weapons research with taxpayer money. Trump has not responded to Musk’s comments but expressed approval of his efforts to cut government programs.
Since Trump took office last month, USAID has faced significant reductions, with staff instructed to halt their activities, even in critical situations. Over the weekend, USAID’s website went largely offline, indicating a transition to operate under the State Department.
Security staff at its Washington D.C. headquarters were put on leave when they attempted to prevent Musk’s team from accessing secure areas. Democratic Senator Peter Welch criticized Musk’s actions as an abuse of power, and Senator Amy Klobuchar warned that dismantling USAID poses risks to global safety.
Source: NOS