Elon Musk recently revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly agreed to the idea of shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This update came during an X Spaces session where Musk discussed the issue with Vivek Ramaswamy, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, and Utah Senator Mike Lee.
The controversy surrounding USAID escalated over the weekend when reports emerged that DOGE, a team associated with Elon Musk, had targeted the agency. According to Fox News, over 50 senior USAID staff members were placed on administrative leave, and there were claims that the DOGE team had gained access to USAID materials. USAID is responsible for distributing foreign aid and development assistance worldwide and manages a substantial budget of around $40 billion.
During the X Spaces session, Musk criticized USAID for engaging in corrupt activities and advocated for its discontinuation. He mentioned that he had discussed the matter with President Trump, who reportedly agreed to the idea of shutting down the agency. Trump himself had criticized USAID, calling it a “viper’s nest” run by “radical lunatics.” While Trump did not explicitly state his plans to fully discontinue USAID, he commended Musk for his efforts to cut costs.
The potential shutdown of USAID has sparked discussions and debates within political circles. Musk’s influence and close relationship with Trump have raised eyebrows, but it remains to be seen how this development will unfold in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.