Trump Tightens Control Over USAID, Sparking Political and Diplomatic Upheaval

Humanitarian workers, diplomats, and lawmakers are trying to understand what is happening with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) after significant disruptions in its operations over the past few days. The agency's website is down, some employees have lost access to work systems, and more than 100 staff members have been placed on administrative leave, sources told Reuters.

On Sunday evening, President Donald Trump told reporters that USAID was “run by a bunch of radical lunatics” and that his administration was “dealing” with the situation. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating in Washington about the possible incorporation of the agency into the U.S. State Department.

USAID, established in 1961 by the administration of John F. Kennedy, plays a key role in providing international humanitarian aid, supporting democratic institutions, and financing development programs worldwide. The agency employs around 10,000 people, with an annual budget reaching billions of dollars.

Conflict Over Access to Information

According to Reuters sources, tensions escalated after staff from the newly created U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, attempted to gain access to the agency’s secured systems. USAID Security Director John Voorhees and his deputy refused to grant permission and were subsequently placed on administrative leave.

Security officials were threatened with criminal prosecution, and DOGE representatives were ultimately granted access to several secured areas, including the security office and the agency’s executive secretariat.

DOGE spokesperson Katie Miller told Reuters that all DOGE personnel who entered the USAID office had the appropriate security clearance and that “no classified information fell into the wrong hands.”

However, security experts have expressed concern, as these offices may have contained sensitive files on USAID personnel working in crisis zones, as well as classified diplomatic materials.

Political Purge and Potential Dissolution of USAID

On Monday night, USAID employees in Washington received an email instructing them to work from home. According to Reuters, the email was sent by Gavin Klieger, a DOGE employee, raising further concerns among agency staff.

Trump administration sources told Reuters that USAID employees had already been informed of upcoming significant staff reductions. Additionally, Matt Hopson, who was appointed as the agency’s head just days ago, has resigned.

Elon Musk confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that he had discussed USAID’s fate with Trump and that the president supported his proposal to shut down the agency. “I asked Trump multiple times, ‘Are you sure?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ So we are shutting it down,” Musk said during an X Spaces discussion.

Later, Musk referred to USAID as a “nest of worms,” claiming that the agency funds “radically leftist” and “anti-American” initiatives. Responding to CNN’s reporting on the developing controversy, Musk posted on X: “USAID needs to die.”

Reactions in Washington and Abroad

Democratic lawmakers in Congress have already voiced strong criticism. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding explanations.

“The Trump administration appears to be testing how far it can go in unilaterally reshaping the government without congressional approval,” said Tess Bridgeman, a former official in the State Department and National Security Council under Barack Obama.

Financial Times noted that the potential absorption of USAID by the State Department could lead to funding cuts for humanitarian programs, creating a vacuum that could be quickly filled by other global players, including China.

At risk are programs such as demining in conflict zones, the distribution of HIV medications, and field hospitals for refugees.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that USAID had “attempted to influence domestic processes in the country for years.” In response, U.S. humanitarian organizations emphasized that the agency had played a crucial role in combating poverty and crises worldwide.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s government has ordered the closure of USAID’s office in Baku, citing national security threats and alleged interference in the country’s internal affairs, officials said Monday.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that USAID had been conducting “activities incompatible with its declared objectives” and that the agency’s operations “contradicted the country’s sovereignty interests.”