Elon Musk’s DOGE Audits USAID; Trump Agrees to Shutdown
Last week, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, conducted an audit on the US Agency for International Development (USAID). President Donald Trump subsequently criticized USAID’s leadership, describing it as “poorly managed by radical lunatics.” The criticism followed reports that two top USAID security officials were placed on leave after attempting to prevent DOGE from accessing its systems.
USAID, established to promote American interests abroad through assistance to foreign governments and international institutions, has been the subject of Trump’s disapproval. In a Sunday statement, he said, “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision on its future.”
The audit coincided with USAID’s website going offline and its Twitter account vanishing, amid rumors that the White House was considering merging the agency into the State Department. Musk later revealed he had spoken with Trump, who agreed to shut down USAID.
Musk discussed these developments during an X Spaces stream, where he confirmed Trump’s agreement to close the agency after checking multiple times. “Are you sure?” Musk asked, to which Trump replied, “So we’re shutting it down.”
Previously, Musk had accused USAID of financing bioweapon research, including projects allegedly linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, labeling the agency a “criminal organization.” On Friday, a DOGE team gained access to USAID’s internal systems, including its website and key databases. They also reportedly took control of software used for budgeting, accounting, and financial transactions.
The audit raised concerns about data security and transparency within USAID. With Trump’s agreement to shut down the agency, questions remain about the future of USAID’s ongoing programs and the fate of the sensitive information it holds.