Billionaire Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump has agreed to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after a civilian review led by Musk uncovered alleged misconduct and security breaches within the agency. Musk's claims stem from a dispute over access to classified information, where USAID security officials reportedly refused to grant access to Musk's team. The agency's headquarters was subsequently closed to staff on Monday, February 3, 2025, adding to the uncertainty surrounding USAID's future.
FILE - USAID humanitarian aid destined for Venezuela is displayed for the media at a warehouse next to the Tienditas International Bridge on the outskirts of Cucuta, Colombia, Feb. 19, 2019. Staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development were instructed to stay out of the agency’s Washington headquarters on Monday, according to a notice distributed to them, after billionaire Elon Musk announced President Donald Trump had agreed with him to shut the agency.
The developments come after Musk, who’s leading an extraordinary civilian review of the federal government with the Republican president’s agreement, said early Monday that he had spoken with Trump about the six-decade U.S. aid and development agency and “he agreed we should shut it down.” Musk’s DOGE crew lacked high enough security clearance to access that information, so the two USAID security officials — John Voorhees and deputy Brian McGill — believed themselves legally obligated to deny access.
ELON MUSK USAID DONALD TRUMP GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SECURITY BREACH
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