Trump moves to wrest control of USAID as Musk says 'we're shutting it down'
Source: Washington Post
The Trump administration and its allies moved to tighten control of the U.S. Agency for International Development over the weekend, signaling an intent to act forcefully to bring the U.S. foreign policy apparatus in line with the president’s “America First” approach to engaging with the world.
Current and former officials said the administration removed two top security officials at USAID on Saturday after they refused to allow representatives of the office led by billionaire Elon Musk access to restricted spaces at the agency.
The placement of the security officials — John Voorhees and his deputy — on administrative leave is alarming several lawmakers concerned about security protocols as the Trump administration and Musk aim to wrest control of the world’s largest provider of food assistance. Since President Donald Trump took office two weeks ago, the agency has been under siege and whipsawed by aid freezes, personnel purges and confusion.
Musk, heading a government efficiency effort under Trump, said on X early Monday that he is in the process closing the agency with Trump’s blessing. “ I went over it with him in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down,” Musk said. “And I actually checked with him a few times [and] said ‘are you sure?’”
The answer was yes, he said.
“And so we’re shutting it down,” Musk said.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/02/usaid-trump-musk/
Shutting it down?
Who is He to just shut it down - on a verbal?
= new reply since forum marked as read
