Elon Musk claims that President Trump has agreed to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) following Musk's civilian review of the federal government. The announcement came after a standoff between Musk's team and USAID security officials over access to classified information. Musk's team, known as DOGE, attempted to gain access to restricted areas containing classified material, but two USAID security officials denied access due to DOGE's lack of sufficient security clearance. Eventually, DOGE gained access to the classified information on Saturday. Musk has publicly stated that USAID is a 'criminal organization' and that it is 'time for it to die'.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ) 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. USAID staffers said they tracked 600 employees who reported being locked out of the agency’s computer systems overnight.
Those still in the system received emails in the agency system saying that “at the direction of Agency leadership” the headquarters building “will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3.” 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.” “It became apparent that its not an apple with a worm it in,” Musk said. “What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.” “We’re shutting it down.” This follows a tense standoff between Musk’s team and USAID security officials over classified information. Musk’s team, known as DOGE, attempted to gain access to classified material in restricted areas. However, two USAID security officials — John Voorhees and deputy Brian McGill — believed themselves legally obligated to deny access as Musk’s DOGE crew lacked high enough security clearance. This incident led to a delay in Musk’s team accessing classified information, which includes intelligence reports. Eventually, DOGE did gain access on Saturday, according to a former U.S. official. Musk on Sunday responded to an X post about the news by saying, “USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die.” He followed with additional posts on X about the aid agency
ELON MUSK DONALD TRUMP USAID GOVERNMENT REVIEW CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SECURITY SHUTDOWN
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