Elon Musk recently criticized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), labeling it a "criminal organization."
His remarks came as former President Donald Trump also condemned the agency, calling it "run by radical lunatics" and suggesting its future was uncertain.
Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, made the claims on X (formerly Twitter), alleging without evidence that USAID was involved in rogue CIA operations and internet censorship. He further accused the agency of using taxpayer funds to support bioweapon research, including work on COVID-19, an assertion linked to Russian disinformation campaigns by past officials.
Trump echoed Musk’s sentiments, vowing to restructure or potentially dismantle USAID. He has already frozen aid spending for three months, creating uncertainty about the agency's independence.
Established by Congress, USAID manages a $42.8 billion global humanitarian and development aid budget. There are reports Trump may integrate it into the State Department, though his team has not confirmed these plans.
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Musk is set to provide an update on his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary government entity under the repurposed U.S. Digital Service. While DOGE lacks full departmental status and Musk holds no official government role, reports indicate his team attempted to access classified documents and USAID security systems.
Critics, including Senator Chris Murphy and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have condemned these actions, calling them a national security risk.
Meanwhile, USAID’s official X account has been disabled, and its website remains offline, fueling further controversy over its future.
With Musk’s increasing influence over federal budget decisions, his alliance with Trump signals potential major shifts in U.S. government operations and global aid policies.
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