Trump to Dismantle USAID

Trump Agrees to Dismantle USAID
Musk Criticizes the Agency
Uncertain Future for USAID

The offices of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington were closed this Monday, following Elon Musk’s announcement about Donald Trump’s decision to dismantle the agency.

«Per the Agency’s leadership directions, the USAID headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. will be closed to staff on Monday, February 3, 2025,» was the message sent to employees, indicating that they should work remotely, except for essential personnel.

The email, sent from the agency’s press account, included Gavin Kliger, an ally of Musk. Meanwhile, the agency’s building was sealed off with yellow tape, preventing public access on Monday morning.

The future of USAID, founded in 1963, seems uncertain. With about 10,000 employees and a budget of $50 billion in 2023, its dismantling has raised significant concerns.

Musk and Trump Confirm the Closure of USAID

Trump, agency, closed, Musk, workers, Trump Agrees to Dismantle USAID — Trump Agrees to Dismantle USAID – PHOTO: Shutterstock

«We are going to shut it down,» Musk confirmed, who is leading an effort to reduce the size of the government.

He explained that Trump agreed to dissolve the agency after reviewing the issue in detail:

«I went over it with him in detail, and he agreed that we should close it. And actually, I asked him several times, ‘Are you sure?'»

Musk argued that USAID cannot be reformed, describing the agency as a «can of worms» and stating that when there is no «apple,» it’s necessary to get rid of everything.

CBS News reported that Trump’s government is considering integrating USAID under the Department of State, with cuts in its employee roster.

The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, declared himself the interim director of the agency from El Salvador.

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USAID has been at the forefront of U.S. international and humanitarian cooperation, though it has occasionally been accused of funding projects aimed at destabilizing governments.

In 2014, during Obama’s administration, it was revealed that the agency had funded a covert program to send Latin American youths to Cuba under the guise of civic and health programs, but with the real aim of promoting political change on the island.

This closure could mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign and international cooperation policy.

The impact of the decision to dismantle USAID could be profound, as the agency has played a crucial role in distributing humanitarian aid and promoting democracy globally.

If the closure is implemented, assistance operations in developing countries could be severely affected, leaving many vulnerable communities without the support they traditionally received from the agency.

On the other hand, controversy over USAID is not new.

Over the years, the agency has been criticized for intervening in the internal affairs of other countries, which has led to diplomatic tensions.

The case of funding covert programs in Cuba is just one example of the criticisms towards USAID, which some consider more an instrument of political interference than a cooperation entity.

With uncertainty over its future, USAID is at a crossroads. While some politicians and experts applaud the move as part of an effort to reduce the size of the government.

Others warn that its closure could isolate the United States from the international scene and weaken its ability to address global challenges, such as poverty, humanitarian crises, and the promotion of human rights.