The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is facing renewed scrutiny after two top security officials were placed on leave following an alleged confrontation with a government task force led by billionaire Elon Musk.
The incident comes amid former President Donald Trump’s renewed pledge to freeze aid to South Africa over its land confiscation policies, heightening concerns over his administration’s foreign aid strategy.
Musk, who was appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accused USAID of being a “criminal organization” after agency officials reportedly denied members of his cost-cutting task force access to secure areas at its Washington headquarters.
“Time for it to die,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X, echoing Trump’s broader push to slash foreign aid.
According to US media reports, USAID’s director of security, John Voorhees, and his deputy, Brian McGill, were suspended after preventing DOGE personnel from entering restricted areas due to their lack of security clearance. However, multiple reports, including one from CNN, suggested that the representatives were ultimately granted access to classified sections.
The White House dismissed these claims. “This is how unserious and untrustworthy the media is,” said White House communications director Steven Cheung, calling the reports “fake news.”
Katie Miller, a DOGE official, later wrote on X that “no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances,” seemingly confirming that an attempt had been made.
The controversy has amplified fears that Trump, who has already frozen most foreign aid, is preparing to either severely cut or dismantle USAID entirely. Over the weekend, the agency’s official website went offline, replaced with a barebones page under the State Department’s domain, fueling speculation that it may soon be absorbed into the latter.
Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, accused the Trump administration of undermining the agency. “President Trump has spent two weeks harassing and laying off USAID employees, and now his team is trying to dismantle it altogether,” he posted on X.
Other Democratic lawmakers also voiced concerns over Musk’s influence in government, despite his unelected status.
“This is a five-alarm fire. The people elected Donald Trump to be President – not Elon Musk,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, warning that granting a billionaire with foreign business ties access to classified US information posed a serious national security risk.
Senator Elizabeth Warren echoed these concerns. “As Donald Trump allows Musk to access people’s personal information and shut down government funding, Republicans in Washington will also own the consequences,” she said.
Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his stance against foreign aid, particularly to South Africa. He announced plans to cut off “all future funding” over the government’s decision to allow the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation.
“The United States won’t stand for it. We will act,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that aid would be suspended pending a “full investigation.”
In 2023, the US allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa, with USAID playing a major role in distributing funds. Overall, Washington provided $72 billion in foreign aid across 180 countries last year, with more than half of it funneled through USAID.
