Global Aid in Crisis: With USAID’s sudden closure, experts warn of devastating consequences for health, development, and U.S. diplomacy as Musk leads an unprecedented government overhaul.
BY PC Bureau
USAID employees were ordered to stay home Monday after Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump had approved the closure of the international development agency.
“We’re shutting it down,” Musk declared in an audio statement on X, claiming to have the President’s “full support.”
Late Sunday night, staff received emails instructing them not to report to the Washington headquarters, according to Devex. The announcement followed the suspension of two senior USAID officials who reportedly tried to prevent Musk’s representatives from accessing secure areas, as reported by The Telegraph.
Massive protests have erupted in front of the USAID building following Musk’s attempts to shut USAID down. The resistance to Trump and Musk’s is growing.
BREAKING: Massive protests have erupted in front of the USAID building following Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s unlawful attempts to shut USAID down. The resistance to Trump and Musk’s incompetence is growing. pic.twitter.com/EvRNmKaX9I
— Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) February 3, 2025
Disrupting the World’s Largest Aid Donor
USAID, which distributed $72 billion in aid in 2023, has long supported efforts ranging from disaster relief to public health initiatives such as HIV/AIDS treatment. Experts warned that the sudden closure jeopardizes decades of progress.
ALSO READ: Kim Furious Over Bianca’s Grammy Look, Worried for Kids
Mitchell Warren, Executive Director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), called the decision “reckless and dangerous.” He cautioned, “Hard-fought gains are being wiped out overnight.”
‘Beyond Repair’: Musk’s Rationale
Musk, tasked by Trump to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), described USAID as a “criminal organization” and “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists.”
“It’s not just an apple with a worm in it,” Musk said. “It’s a ball of worms. The only solution is to scrap it entirely.”
DOGE officials reportedly forced their way into USAID headquarters, demanding access to restricted areas. When staff attempted to block entry, DOGE representatives allegedly threatened to bring in federal marshals.
ALSO READ: Ontario Cancels Starlink Deal, Bars U.S. Firms in Tariff War
Following the incident, the agency’s Director of Security and his deputy were placed on administrative leave, while Chief of Staff Matt Hopson resigned.
Atul Gawande, a former USAID official, condemned the shutdown as “an unlawful dismantling.” He revealed that a memorial wall honoring employees killed in the line of duty had been taken down. “This is not just a pause—it’s destruction,” he said.
At the press conference outside of USAID headquarters, Senator Chris Van Hollen:
“Elon Musk may get to be dictator of Tesla…and he may try to play dictator here in Washington D.C., but he doesn’t get to shut down the Agency for International Development.”
BOOM! pic.twitter.com/5PV15u6rT3
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) February 3, 2025
Eroding U.S. Influence
Experts say the closure undermines U.S. diplomatic influence and health leadership globally.
Lawrence Gostin, a global health law expert, emphasized USAID’s role in spreading American values and fostering international stability. “Our reputation as a compassionate leader will be decimated,” he warned.
Karen Mathiasen of the Center for Global Development said China and other countries could exploit the void left by the U.S.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president, praised the move as “wise,” reflecting longstanding Kremlin hostility toward USAID, which was expelled from Russia in 2012 over accusations of political interference.
Warren warned of long-lasting consequences: “It takes years to build these programs and just days to destroy them.”
As the international community reacts with concern, the abrupt dismantling of USAID signals a seismic shift in America’s approach to global development and diplomacy.
