On Sunday, Elon Musk launched a fierce attack on the US Agency for International Development (USAID), branding it a "criminal organization."

 

This criticism came in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s comments, where he described USAID as "run by radical lunatics" and suggested he was reconsidering the agency's future.

 

Musk's remarks represent a notable escalation in Trump's ongoing efforts to empower the billionaire to reshape government agencies, as both view the current spending and policies as wasteful.

 

Musk, known for his leadership of Tesla and SpaceX, made his accusations on his social media platform, X. He responded to a video claiming USAID's involvement in questionable activities linked to the CIA, stating, "USAID is a criminal organization."

 

 

Further amplifying his claims, Musk asked his 215 million followers, “Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?” He did not provide evidence for his assertions, which have been associated with disinformation efforts by Russia.

 

 

Trump echoed Musk's sentiments, claiming that the agency had been managed by "a bunch of radical lunatics" and indicated plans for a reevaluation of USAID's operations. He affirmed his support for Musk, stating he believed the billionaire was "doing a good job."

 

Amidst this political turbulence, Trump had previously frozen aid spending for three months, although he later allowed humanitarian aid to proceed. Concerns persist among aid workers regarding the future of USAID as an independent entity.

 

Established by Congress, USAID oversees a budget of USD 42.8 billion dedicated to global humanitarian relief and development assistance. Some US-based officials worry that prioritizing "emergency" assistance signals a potential shift away from broader funding efforts. Reports have circulated suggesting that Trump may aim to integrate USAID into the State Department.

 

During a recent session on X, Musk revealed that Trump "agreed that we should shut [USAID] down." The discussion focused on Musk's initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at reducing federal spending without congressional approval.

 

Musk claimed significant progress had been made in reducing the deficit, emphasizing efforts to combat "fraud and waste." However, DOGE currently lacks full government department status, leaving its accountability unclear.

 

In a separate development, CNN reported that two senior USAID officials were placed on leave after restricting access to classified documents for Musk's DOGE staff. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Trump dismissed a PBS report about the situation as "not even remotely true."

 

Critics have expressed alarm over Musk's influence. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy condemned the dismantling of USAID, while Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued that having an "unelected billionaire" involved in national security matters poses a serious threat.

 

As tensions rise over the future of USAID and Musk's role in government reform, the impact on U.S. humanitarian efforts remains uncertain.