‘It’s beyond repair’: Elon Musk targets closure of US humanitarian aid agency

Trump administration locked USAID workers out of their headquarters in downtown Washington as it moved to close the agency

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A woman protests against Elon Musk outside the US Agency for International Development (USAID) building in Washington on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:02pm, 3 Feb 2025Updated: 5:57am, 4 Feb 2025

The Trump administration on Monday locked US Agency for International Development (USAID) workers out of their headquarters in downtown Washington as it moved to close the agency, prompting two Democratic senators to vow to block confirmations of State Department nominees.

The lockout added to the chaos that has consumed the agency, which distributes billions of dollars of humanitarian aid around the world, since Trump ordered a freeze on most US foreign aid as soon as taking office on January 20.

USAID has also been targeted for closure by billionaire Elon Musk, who has been tasked by the president with downsizing the federal government. On Monday, staff received an internal email saying the agency’s main office was going to be shut.

A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump was considering merging USAID into the State Department and had “entrusted Elon to oversee the efficiency of this agency”.

He added that there were discussions about sending a notification to US Congress to tell lawmakers of the administration’s plans.

Elon Musk has estimated the Trump administration can cut US$1 trillion from the US deficit next year. Photo: AFP

A group of Democratic lawmakers, cheered by dozens of furloughed agency employees and contractors, held a protest in front of the USAID headquarters.

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