Trump and Musk Target USAID, Spark Chaos Over Planned Merger

The Trump administration has stirred up a storm by reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State Department, leaving workers locked out and uncertain about the agency’s future.

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed he is now the acting head of USAID, the US government’s key organization responsible for distributing billions in foreign aid worldwide.

However, in a move that has sparked outrage, Democratic lawmakers have condemned the merger, calling it illegal and unconstitutional.

Critics warn that dismantling the agency could weaken US influence abroad and hurt the world’s most vulnerable populations.

President Donald Trump and his close advisor, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, have both been outspoken in their criticism of USAID.

Trump accused the agency of “tremendous fraud,” but offered no specific evidence to support his claims.

He referred to USAID’s leadership as “radical left lunatics,” fueling concerns that political motivations are behind the push to cut the agency’s power.

USAID, established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, has over 10,000 employees and a budget nearing $40 billion. However, despite its significant role in global humanitarian efforts, the Trump administration is questioning its effectiveness.

Secretary Rubio referred to the agency as “completely unresponsive” and emphasized that its functions would still be aligned with US foreign policy but would undergo significant changes.

Elon Musk, who has been given broad authority in Trump’s administration to cut government spending through an initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has been a vocal critic of USAID.

Over the weekend, Musk made a series of statements on X, the social media platform he owns, calling the agency “evil” and a “criminal organization.”

Musk’s push to close USAID, coupled with reports of major agency security officials being placed on leave and its website going dark, has raised alarm across the political spectrum.

Key programs, including an international famine tracker, have become unavailable as a result of the shutdown.

While some have suggested that Musk’s business interests in China may be influencing his actions, others are more concerned about the broader implications of dismantling USAID.

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland warned that this move could harm national security and leave global humanitarian efforts in disarray.

In the wake of the shutdown, USAID’s employees were locked out of their email accounts and instructed to stay home.

Amidst the turmoil, there has been no clear plan outlined for how the merger will proceed or how it will impact the billions of dollars in aid distributed by the agency.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the world watches closely to see if this radical shift in US foreign aid policy will succeed, or if it will lead to deeper divisions in both the US and abroad.