
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has effectively brought the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to a standstill, executing a sweeping takeover that has left staff locked out and agency leadership sidelined. Backed by President Donald Trump, the move has triggered a political firestorm, with top officials placed on leave and access to classified files cut off.
They’re an arm of the radical-left globalists https://t.co/tI0QJW1qP1
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2025
🚨HOLY SMOKES: Karoline Leavitt just EXPOSED USAID by laying out exactly what taxpayers money is being wasted on:
– $2.5 MILLION to DEI in Serbia
– $70,000 onan Irish DEI musical
– $47,000 on transgender operas in Colombia
– $32,000 on a trans comic book in PeruSHUT IT DOWN! pic.twitter.com/WA2MNrPDDK
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 3, 2025
. @RepRaskin USAID was created by executive order by JFK. Not Congress you communist. It can be dismantled by executive order. pic.twitter.com/osobJrQpxE
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) February 3, 2025
DOGE agents arrived at USAID headquarters and quickly asserted control over the agency’s internal systems. Security personnel attempted to block their access, prompting a tense standoff. Senior officials, including USAID Director of Security John Voorhees, refused to comply and were removed from their positions. Employees returning to work found the headquarters closed, with yellow police tape blocking the entrance.
If USAID Did Not Exist, Bolsonaro Would Still Be President Of Brazil pic.twitter.com/Uat3Kr8RKY
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) February 4, 2025
$2 million for sex changes in Guatemala
$6 million to fund “tourism” in Egypt
Millions to the EcoHealth Alliance (Wuhan Lab Leak)
$20 million on an Iraq Sesame Street show
And this is just the tip of the iceberg on the USAID scam pic.twitter.com/6RPmrQRxq2
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 4, 2025
7 months ago, I tried to DEFUND USAID.
Only 81 Republicans voted “aye” which is “yes” to my amendment to prohibit funding to USAID.
127 Republicans and 204 Democrats voted NO to my amendment and voted to FUND USAID.
I FULLY SUPPORT ELIMINATING USAID!!! pic.twitter.com/XpSAW9Ap5C
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 3, 2025
Trump’s administration has been clear about its stance on USAID, labeling the agency a hub of financial mismanagement and left-wing activism. A White House statement blasted the agency’s spending habits, listing tourism grants, DEI initiatives, and LGBTQ outreach programs as examples of taxpayer abuse. Musk went even further, posting on X that USAID was a “criminal organization” that needed to be shut down immediately.
Hysterical reactions like this is how you know that @DOGE is doing work that really matters.
This is the one shot the American people have to defeat BUREAUcracy, rule of the bureaucrats, and restore DEMOcracy, rule of the people. We’re never going to get another chance like… https://t.co/rwBqcp7veQ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2025
Audit USAID…Then Shut it Down! pic.twitter.com/ooeFeQmAO3
— Ron Paul (@RonPaul) February 3, 2025
Ron Paul is NOT HOLDING BACK 🔥
“USAID is a key component of the U.S. Government’s Regime Change Operations Worldwide. They spend $B’s every year…propping up NGO’s overseas that function as Shadow Governments…they must be SHUT DOWN…” pic.twitter.com/8xHVB7loYo
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) February 4, 2025
Senator John Kennedy: “To my friends who are upset, call somebody who cares. You better get used to this. It’s USAID today, it’s gonna be Department of Education tomorrow.”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/k43BDnQmjt
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 4, 2025
USAID has long been accused of operating outside public scrutiny, with funding streams benefiting groups tied to radical political efforts. Reports indicate that the agency has funneled money toward organizations connected to George Soros and has even played a role in efforts to undermine Trump through legal challenges. Connections to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company entangled in the Biden family scandal, have also raised concerns.
USAID is not a "humanitarian" effort. It's a CIA front. It's why the rest of the world HATES us.
In exchange for our tax dollars, we've asked countries to change their laws, accept abortion, promote transgenderism in their schools, open their markets to multinational… pic.twitter.com/eMhLyVhhTi
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) February 3, 2025
Ilhan Omar supports USAID because almost $2.3 billion of our tax dollars were wasted on Somalia. Omar swore allegiance to Somalia over America.
She said, “I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from within the US system.”
This violates Omar’s oath to Congress and the US. pic.twitter.com/kY7snfHJwa
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) February 3, 2025
That is exactly what is happening! https://t.co/PncYpudM8U
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2025
The crackdown has sparked backlash from Senate Democrats and federal employee unions. Lawsuits have been filed against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and DOGE officials, with claims that private financial data was accessed unlawfully. Democratic lawmakers are now pressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio for information on how DOGE personnel gained access to USAID’s restricted areas.
While opposition grows, the Trump administration is pushing forward with plans to overhaul federal agencies. Reports indicate USAID could be absorbed into the State Department, effectively stripping it of its independent power. In the meantime, DOGE remains in control, and bureaucrats who once operated freely under previous administrations are now facing serious scrutiny.