The Trump administration’s billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has made headlines by advocating for the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed his firm belief that USAID is beyond repair and should be shut down during a live session on X Spaces. This move follows a tense situation where two top security chiefs at USAID were placed on leave for refusing to provide classified information to Musk’s government-inspection teams. Despite lacking the necessary security clearance, DOGE eventually gained access to sensitive information at USAID, leading to further controversy.

Musk’s DOGE was formed in collaboration with the Trump administration with the aim of streamlining federal operations by reducing the workforce, cutting programs, and deregulating the government. USAID, a major target of the Trump administration’s crackdown on federal agencies, has faced significant challenges under the current administration, including frozen foreign assistance and program disruptions.

Critics, including Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, have raised concerns about the implications of allowing Musk’s team access to sensitive government information and the potential harm to individuals and government funding. As tensions escalate and USAID’s future hangs in the balance, the fate of one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid providers remains uncertain amidst calls for transparency and accountability in government actions.