USAID dismantled: Musk and Trump drive aid agency closure
Elon Musk, the billionaire behind the budget reduction programme in the USA, announced on his social media platform Monday the closure of the world's largest aid agency, USAID.
In a conversation held on platform X with American businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Senator Joni Ernst, Elon Musk declared that USAID is "beyond repair". At the same time, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, believes the agency should be closed.
The day before, the media reported that the new U.S. administration had dismissed two heads of USAID responsible for security, who attempted to prevent emissaries from the State Efficiency Department (DOGE), managed by Musk, from entering the agency.
USAID is the largest aid agency in the world. In 2023, it spent £59 billion on international aid. The funds support various programmes, such as increasing women's access to basic healthcare in conflict zones, access to clean water, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and anti-corruption efforts, notes Reuters.
Last year, USAID provided funding for 42% of the world's humanitarian aid recorded by the UN.
According to Musk, USAID is evil
As "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reported, Elon Musk has disparaged USAID in various posts, calling it "evil" and spreading baseless accusations and conspiracy theories about the agency.
USAID "is a criminal organization. Time for it to die," wrote a close associate of President Donald Trump. He has a significant influence on the American government, even though, on paper, he serves as an "external adviser" and has no political mandate, notes "FAZ".
In another past post, Musk stated that "USAID was a viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America."
The great overhaul
Donald Trump unequivocally supports Musk's actions regarding budget cuts. When the U.S. president was asked on Sunday if the billionaire is "doing a good job," he confirmed and added that the owner of Tesla is excellent at reducing costs. - Although sometimes we may disagree with him and reject his projects, he does a great job - he assessed.
Musk's teams have gained or taken control of numerous U.S. government systems. Since taking power, which happened 11 days ago, Trump has initiated a major overhaul of the government, dismissing or demoting hundreds of officials, which has allowed for a reduction of the administrative apparatus and the installation of individuals loyal to the president, emphasises Reuters.
