Federal Workers Block Trump-Ordered Shutdown of African Development Agency

Staff at the US African Development Foundation prevented Musk's DOGE unit from executing layoffs, citing legal protections and Congressional authority.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team was denied entry to the US African Development Foundation (USADF) headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The attempted entry was part of President Trump's executive order to eliminate several independent agencies deemed 'unnecessary,' including USADF.
USADF President Ward Brehm instructed staff not to allow DOGE operatives access without his presence, stating that Trump lacked the authority to unilaterally dismantle the agency.
USADF, established in 1980, provides grants to small businesses and grassroots organizations in Africa, impacting over 6 million people between 2019 and 2023.
Democratic lawmakers and legal experts argue that Trump's order exceeds constitutional limits, as Congress alone can dissolve the agency.