Amidst sweeping changes within the Trump administration, thousands of USAID employees have been laid off and programmes shut down worldwide after a freeze on foreign assistance was implemented. The closure of USAID has been orchestrated by billionaire Elon Musk, who reportedly had a conversation with President Trump to shut down the agency.
President Trump expressed his support for shutting down USAID, stating that it should have been done a long time ago. Musk, who is leading a civilian review of the federal government, also advocated for the closure of the agency, describing it as beyond repair. The Trump administration placed top security chiefs at USAID on leave after they refused to turn over classified materials to Musk’s government-inspection teams.
The closure of USAID is part of a larger crackdown by the Trump administration on federal government activities and programmes, in line with their goal of reducing waste and ending liberal social programs. USAID, established during the Cold War as a means of countering Soviet influence, is now seen as a crucial tool in countering Russian and Chinese power globally.
However, Democrats have pushed back against the closure of USAID, calling it an illegal power grab and corrupt abuse of power. Lawmakers have sought to enter USAID offices in Washington to talk to remaining staff and have faced resistance from security personnel. Court challenges are already being pursued to try to reverse the shutdown, although with Democrats in the minority in Congress, their ability to block Trump’s actions is limited.
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