- Elon Musk called USAID a “criminal organization.”
- Trump froze most U.S. foreign aid for three months.
- USAID officials clashed with Musk’s government oversight team.
Billionaire Elon Musk has branded the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) a “criminal organization” following Donald Trump’s decision to freeze most of Washington’s foreign aid for three months.
The Trump administration has since issued waivers for food and humanitarian relief, but aid workers warn that uncertainty is already affecting vulnerable populations.
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Musk’s remarks came as he leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with cutting federal spending and reducing the government workforce.
Reports suggest USAID is one of its main targets.
“USAID is a criminal organization,” Musk posted on his X platform, responding to a video alleging the agency’s involvement in “rogue CIA work” and “internet censorship.”
He later claimed, without evidence, that USAID funded bioweapon research, including COVID-19, which he said “killed millions.”
Officials in the previous administration have dismissed Musk’s claims as part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Meanwhile, USAID’s account on X has been disabled, and its website remains offline. The agency, established by Congress, oversees a $42.8 billion budget for global humanitarian and development assistance.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has condemned what he called the “total destruction” of USAID.
CNN reports that two senior security officials at USAID were put on forced leave after blocking DOGE representatives from accessing classified documents.
The representatives also sought access to staff records and security systems at USAID’s headquarters, sources told the network.
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Amid growing concerns, reports suggest Trump may merge USAID into the State Department, though his team has not commented on the issue.
The ongoing conflict over USAID’s future highlights deep divisions over U.S. foreign aid and government spending.
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