NewStats: 3,262,617 , 8,177,697 topics. Date: Tuesday, 03 June 2025 at 03:56 AM 101g42

Tech billionaire Elon Musk said Monday that he and President Donald Trump were in the process of shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development, escalating their war on the federal bureaucracy and defying the constitutional power of Congress to determine how money is spent.

Musk, the head of Trump’s government efficiency initiative, announced the shutdown in the middle of the night in an audio-only appearance on his social media site X.

“We’re shutting it down,” he said. At another point, he said "we’re in the process” of “shutting down USAID.”

Musk did not say what legal authority he believed the White House has to shut down a federal agency without congressional approval, or how quickly the istration planned to act. He said the idea had “the full of the president” and that he had spoken with Trump on the matter several times.

“With regard to the USAID stuff, I went over [it] with him in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down,” he said. “I actually checked with him a few times [and] said, ‘Are you sure?’” he said. He said that Trump responded, “Yes.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Musk’s announcement early Monday morning.

Trump on Sunday said that Musk “is doing a good job,” and criticized USAID as “run by a bunch of radical lunatics,” though Trump did not go so far as to say he planned to shut down the agency, with or without congressional agreement.

Trump istration officials have discussed placing USAID under the authority of the State Department, according to more than a dozen current and former officials and sources familiar with the discussions, NBC News has reported, a move that Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have argued would violate a law adopted by Congress establishing the agency.

Trump has said that he is freezing virtually all U.S. foreign assistance pending a 90-day review.

Congress annually appropriates money for USAID to spend, primarily for foreign aid and internationally focused charities. Its budget for the 2023 fiscal year was about $40 billion, according to a report last month from the Congressional Research Service. That’s a tiny fraction of the overall federal discretionary spending of $1.7 trillion.

President John F. Kennedy created USAID by executive order in 1961 after Congress ed a reorganization of foreign assistance.

Musk’s announcement followed an unusual incident Saturday in which USAID’s director of security and his deputy were placed on istrative leave after they tried to prevent employees from Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing secure USAID systems, five sources told NBC News. The DOGE employees threatened to call the U.S. Marshals, two of the sources said. The DOGE employees were eventually able to gain access to the secure systems, three of the sources said, but it was not clear what information they were able to obtain.

It was already clear last week that the Trump istration and Musk’s staff planned a radical shakeup of USAID, one of several agencies where fear and chaos are sweeping over the federal workforce. More than 50 career civil servants at USAID were placed on istrative leave last Monday.

USAID has in the past had a partnership with one of Musk’s companies, SpaceX. The agency announced in 2022 that it had partnered with SpaceX to provide 5,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals to the government of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.

On Monday, though, Musk called USAID “beyond repair” and “hopeless.” He also said the agency was “not an apple with a worm in it, but we have actually just a ball of worms.”

In a post on X, Musk added that he had “spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper. Could gone to some great parties. Did that instead.”

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a longtime critic of federal spending, ed Musk on the call and said she agreed with his assessment. It’s not clear, though, how widespread that view is, even in the Republican-controlled Congress.

A 1974 federal law known as the Impoundment Control Act says that the president generally cannot withhold funds that Congress has approved. Some Trump aides argue that the law is unconstitutional, foreshadowing a potential fight in the courts.

The hourlong event on X, shortly after midnight ET Monday, was the first time Musk had spoken publicly since he and a group of aides began overhauls of federal agencies last week.

Musk said he plans sweeping additional changes, including “wholesale removal of regulations.”

“Regulations basically should be default gone. Default gone, not default there, default gone,” he said, although he did not make clear if he was speaking for himself or for others in the istration.

Musk also said time was of the essence for Trump to act.

“This is our shot. This is the best hand of cards we’re ever going to have,” he said. “Now or never.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-says-trump-are-shutting-usaid-rcna190388

Please remove the chips you implanted in Trump's brain.

USAID was established to boost US's global influence but Trump is too dumb to know.
He thinks it is free money to other countries.

Great idea. It funded only terrorists and corrupt govt

Xisnin:
USAID was established to boost US's global influence but Trump is too dumb to know.
He thinks it is free money to other countries.

He is not begging ur papa. If u dont like it start to japa to China

There's nothing bad with aids to Africa but I agree it's currently a very corrupt system.

It is getting rough and funny

Saudi are not doing aid yet billions are sent to saudi for hajj. The US is smarter now

Let's see how it goes

Xisnin:
USAID was established to boost US's global influence but Trump is too dumb to know.
He thinks it is free money to other countries.

u know better than US president

Nonsense.
The same musk who knows what people in Africa are benefiting.

Donald Trump is about to create massive unemployment. I pity people working for projects being financed by USAID. Someone should challenge this madness in court!

Xisnin:
USAID was established to boost US's global influence but Trump is too dumb to know.
He thinks it is free money to other countries.

Yes the influence that's no longer working or useful since same people are ing brics.

They will still have influence on us don't worry. They hold the worlds cookie jar.

.... while aid continues to flow to the synagogue of satan !

truth is USAID exist to serve satan and impose his agenda on recipient countries.

Free stuff has and will never benefit africa. It will only make us see the need to tolerate corrupt and irresponsible leaders

These guys will soon be tired.

He can't do all these for 4 years, not possible.
I hope our president is learning.

Elon is one of the biggest fools in the American society. He likes attention so much and likes to make everything about himself.

I suspect the recent land issue Trump is having against South Africa was triggered by Elon Musk due to his South African roots. They basically want white people to keep controlling the country...

Anyways, I am not sorry for South African blacks, they know how to attack their fellow Africans, some don't even see themselves as Africans, so let them face the US or bow to white supremacy in their own country.

It has to go. People just dey use the money mto marry more wives. Sponsor people to hajj, finance terrorism and at the end of the day wish bad to the USA

Elon Musk, the true Vice President (or is it President) of the United States of America

If a rich man suddenly stops donating rice to the villagers, giving money to churches, funding projects for the indigents etc, do you actually think that he will still be respected in that community?

Your guess is as good as mine

That's his problem, if the world is not run by greedy people hording all the resources for themselves, nobody would need hand out from any nation

Again, I can see the method to the madness....aid money is basically a waste of time, and may even hinder development, rather than help it.

But aid is also a reason why the USA Is percieved as a global power. USAID has been in the forefront of making the US look good to the rest of the world. Shutting it down would leave the field open for other countries like China and company.

He should take it easy please..

USAID, A CIA front engaging in intelligence work and meddling in the domestic politics of aid recipients. Shut that shit down. Organization run by lunatics and money launderers

You can grow better when you don't beg others for crumbs . They will not have avenue to insult or look down on you either.

They will not have leash on you like a dog as well .

No matter the amount USAID is spending on Nigeria ,Nigeria can afford it herself.

“We’re shutting it down,” he said. At another point, he said "we’re in the process” of “shutting down USAID.”


Elon musk don insert chip into Trump’s brain

Africa need to outgrow these double edged 'Aid' before thinkin of being truly independent

I just love this Trump 😂😂😂

Many of these organizations have outlived their usefulness and are now avenues for corrupt nonprofits to flourish. We have become so used to the help of the US that we’re no longer grateful, we’re now entitled to it.

Shut it down! After many years of development aid, If Nigerians are not ready to challenge their corrupt politicians and develop their country, so be it!

Babangidapikin:
Please remove the chips you implanted in Trump's brain.

Good one.

omoredia:
Saudi are not doing aid yet billions are sent to saudi for hajj. The US is smarter now

I hate to defend the Saudis, and especially that murderer MBS...but they have given out a lot in aid over the decades, and even have their own version of USAID self.It also donates to UNICEF and other global aid funds.

omoredia:



He is not begging ur papa. If u dont like it start to japa to China

Off comment

Shut down the USA itself!

Who gives a flyin fvck!