Musk says US foreign aid agency USAID will be shut down
Donald Trumpćs foreign aid freeze is already affecting critical humanitarian programs worldwide.
Elon Musk, who is leading Donald Trump’s federal cost-cutting initiative, has announced that efforts are underway to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking on X alongside Republican politicians, Musk called the agency ‘beyond repair’ and confirmed that Trump supports its closure. The move aligns with Trump’s broader policy to scale back government spending, particularly in foreign aid.
USAID staff were instructed to work remotely on Monday, while its website remained inaccessible over the weekend. Two senior security officials were reportedly removed after preventing members of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing restricted areas. Trump criticised the agency’s management, vowing to ‘get them out’ before making a final decision on its future.
As the world’s largest donor, the US provided $72 billion in aid last year, funding critical programs in healthcare, energy security, and humanitarian assistance. The planned shutdown and Trump’s global freeze on foreign aid are expected to impact efforts such as disease treatment, landmine clearance, and refugee support. The move has already sparked concern among international aid organisations and US allies.
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