The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) faces an uncertain future as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the agency, a long-standing pillar of U.S. foreign assistance. Elon Musk, the tech billionaire leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said Monday that President Donald Trump had "agreed" to shut down the agency.

"With regards to the USAID stuff, I went over it with (the president) in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down," Musk said during a Spaces discussion on X, the social media platform he owns. "And I actually checked with him a few times. I said, 'Are you sure?' He's like, 'Yes.' So we're shutting it down."

USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., was closed Monday, with employees instructed to work remotely. According to an internal email obtained by CNN, staff were told: "At the direction of Agency leadership, the USAID headquarters at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington, D.C. will be closed to Agency personnel."

Disruptions and Security Concerns

In the days leading up to the closure, Musk's DOGE task force sought access to USAID's internal security systems and classified materials, leading to the suspension of two top security officials at the agency. CNN reported that DOGE personnel attempted to gain access to sensitive systems, including personnel files and intelligence documents.

Katie Miller, a senior DOGE official, confirmed on X that "no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances." However, multiple sources stated that USAID systems were fully transferred to the State Department, raising questions about the agency's independence.

Musk framed the decision to shutter USAID as necessary, describing it as a "ball of worms" beyond repair. "If you've got an apple that's got a worm in it, maybe you can take the worm out, but if you've actually just got a ball of worms, it's hopeless. And USAID is a ball of worms. There is no apple," Musk said.

Efforts to Erase USAID's Presence

Following Trump's executive order pausing all foreign aid for 90 days, signs of USAID's existence have rapidly disappeared. Over the weekend:

  • Logos and images of USAID projects were stripped from office walls.
  • The agency's website and social media accounts went offline.
  • Around 60 senior officials were placed on administrative leave, with junior staff and contractors facing widespread furloughs.

"All of the visuals have been taken down," an employee told CNN. "These are like large-scale photos of our work in developing countries that were in our lobbies, in our galleys, in communal kitchens, hallways."

Another staffer described the office as half-empty, with colleagues missing and no clear guidance on what happens next. "They've taken the photos off the walls, and we're missing half of our colleagues because they've been let go. It feels like we're walking around with targets on our backs."

Political Fallout and Global Impact

USAID, established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy, has long served as the humanitarian arm of U.S. foreign policy, providing billions in annual assistance to developing countries. Its work includes poverty relief, disease prevention, disaster response, and democracy promotion.

The closure of USAID would mark one of the largest shifts in U.S. foreign policy in decades, stripping away one of the three key pillars of national security-defense, diplomacy, and development-that have guided Washington's approach to international affairs.

On Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers condemned the move. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warning that any attempt to dissolve USAID "requires advance consultation with, and notification to, Congress."

Meanwhile, Trump has dismissed concerns over the agency's fate. "It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out," he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews late Sunday.

Musk echoed Trump's stance in a post on X, writing, "USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die."

Uncertain Future for U.S. Foreign Aid

While Trump and Musk push for dissolution, some officials believe USAID could be absorbed into the State Department rather than eliminated entirely. The move could consolidate foreign aid efforts under diplomatic control, aligning assistance with broader U.S. strategic interests.

For now, USAID staff remain in limbo, awaiting further directives. As one employee put it, "Our senior leaders have all been fired, and no one knows what happens next."