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2mo ago

Trump and Musk Push to Shut Down USAID, Drawing Legal and Global Backlash

Efforts to dismantle the U.S. foreign aid agency face accusations of illegality and concerns over global humanitarian and democracy programs.

Volunteers deliver a USAID delivery to a camp for internally displaced people in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia on December 17, 2021.
FILE - Solar panels system funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are seen in the Lebanese-Syrian border town of Majdal Anjar, eastern Bekaa valley, Lebanon, Nov. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File)
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Food contributions from USAID are distributed to refugees who fled the Tigray conflict at a center near the Ethiopian border in Gedaref, eastern Sudan, on December 2, 2020.

Overview

  • Elon Musk, as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, announced plans to shut down USAID, with nearly all staff placed on leave by February 7, 2025.
  • Legal experts argue the move is unconstitutional, as Congress, not the executive branch, holds authority over creating or dissolving federal agencies.
  • Critics warn that dismantling USAID will harm U.S. influence abroad, particularly in promoting democracy, human rights, and humanitarian aid in conflict zones.
  • Supporters of the closure, including some Republican leaders, cite alleged inefficiency, wasteful spending, and controversial programs as reasons for reform or elimination.
  • Global reactions are divided, with authoritarian leaders celebrating the decision while democracy advocates and U.S. allies express alarm over its potential consequences.