USAID staffers stunned, angered by Trump admin’s DOGE shutdown of $40B agency
Staffers and contractors at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were left shocked and outraged following President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, effectively shutting down the $40 billion agency on Monday.
According to a USAID staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity to Fox News Digital, 80% of staff members discovered they had lost access to the agency’s systems on Monday morning. This included travel, communication, classified information, and databases, raising concerns about how American citizens could be repatriated from dangerous areas around the world if necessary.
Feeling abandoned and unsure of their next steps, staffers expressed frustration at what they perceived as a hostile takeover by DOGE, led by Musk, whom they referred to as “the richest man in the world taking away from the poorest people in the world.”
Established in the early 1960s, USAID’s mission was to provide aid globally, especially in impoverished and underdeveloped regions. The Trump administration alleged that much of the agency’s spending was wasteful and furthered a liberal agenda worldwide.
DOGE specifically called out programs like a $1.5 million initiative in Serbia focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in workplaces, as well as a $70,000 project for a DEI musical in Ireland. Democrats argued that USAID played a crucial role in national security interests, citing its efforts during the Cold War to counter Soviet influence, which remains relevant amid China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Contrary to the perception of USAID as a charity, the source emphasized that the agency was primarily a national security entity, protecting borders and mitigating threats like Ebola and distributing COVID vaccines to safeguard against external dangers.
Elon Musk and President Trump both agreed on the shutdown of USAID, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, named acting director of the agency, echoing the sentiment that the agency was not functioning in the national interest. Rubio stressed the need for transparency and accountability in how taxpayer dollars were spent.
The halt in USAID operations impacted a wide range of humanitarian efforts, including famine relief, clean water distribution, and medical services like polio vaccinations and HIV/AIDS prevention. Contractors like Steve Schmida of Resonance noted layoffs, furloughs, and payment delays as a result of the shutdown, accusing DOGE of intentionally defrauding them.
Schmida warned that the government’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, potentially weaponizing payment systems against American citizens. While acknowledging the need for reform, he urged a more constructive approach to improving the agency rather than dismantling decades of work.
As the situation unfolds, the foreign assistance community remains vigilant, recognizing the importance of a functional aid system while advocating for positive change rather than abrupt destruction.
(Reference: Fox News)
