The US Agency for International Development (USAID) faced an unprecedented shutdown on Monday after billionaire Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump had agreed with him to dismantle the six-decade-old agency. Staffers were instructed to stay out of the agency’s Washington headquarters, and more than 600 employees reported being locked out of their systems overnight.
Shutdown sparks chaos
USAID employees who attempted to access the headquarters on Monday were met with security restrictions. Later, Department of Homeland Security officers blocked the lobby using yellow tape labeled “do not cross.” Staffers were only allowed to retrieve personal belongings before the building was effectively sealed off.
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a civilian review team granted authority by Trump, justified the move in a live session on X Spaces. “It’s not an apple with a worm in it,” he said. “It’s just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair.”
DOGE’s expanding reach
The shutdown follows a pattern of DOGE targeting key government institutions. Last week, the group reportedly accessed sensitive information at the Treasury Department, including Social Security and Medicare payment systems. This weekend, two USAID security officials were placed on leave after refusing DOGE access to classified materials, highlighting tensions over Musk’s role in federal oversight. The Associated Press reported that DOGE officials ultimately gained access to classified materials despite lacking the appropriate security clearance.
CNN first reported that DOGE officials attempted to physically enter USAID’s offices and access classified information. The security officers who tried to prevent them were placed on leave, and USAID’s public affairs team was locked out of their systems. Musk has repeatedly attacked USAID on X, calling it a “criminal organization” and stating, “Time for it to die.” (There is no evidence of any criminal activity by USAID.)
Erasing USAID’s legacy
USAID’s website disappeared over the weekend, and its branding was systematically erased from its offices. Employees reported that all visuals showcasing humanitarian efforts were removed. Many senior leaders were fired, leaving remaining staff uncertain about the agency’s future. A new USAID page has since appeared under the State Department’s website, further signaling its dissolution.
NBC News reported that signs outside the agency’s building were removed Friday, its website went offline Saturday, and its X account vanished Sunday. Meanwhile, hundreds of USAID employees have been fired or furloughed, with the agency’s foreign aid work already suspended since Trump ordered a freeze on most foreign aid last week.
USAID, established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy, has been a key pillar of US soft power, funding global health programs, poverty alleviation, and disaster relief. The agency’s work was part of the US national security strategy known as the “three D” approach: Defense (Pentagon), Diplomacy (State Department), and Development (USAID).
The assault on USAID comes in the context of long-running narratives on the far-right and libertarian wings of the Republican Party that the United States wastes money on foreigners while ignoring Americans.
The agency describes itself as working “to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity.” Its budget of more than $40 billion is a small drop in overall US government annual spending of nearly $7 trillion.
With USAID in limbo, questions arise about the future of US foreign aid and whether the US is stepping away from a fundamental diplomatic tool. As DOGE expands its influence, its next targets remain unknown—but the shockwaves from USAID’s shutdown are already being felt worldwide.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on DOGE’s actions. USAID could not be reached, as CNN reported that its public affairs team had been put on leave and locked out of their systems.