‘Illegal Takeover’ of USAID Operations by Trump, Musk Draws Ire from Democrats
By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square
(Worthy News) – Foreign aid has become the newest target of the Department of Government Efficiency, with President Donald Trump reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State department.
Trump has already made Secretary of State Marco Rubio the acting administrator of USAID and halted the agency’s work via a foreign funding freeze, moves Democratic lawmakers say amount to an “illegal takeover.”
The changes follow DOGE leader Elon Musk’s social media announcements over the weekend that Trump is planning on dismantling USAID entirely, a claim that Rubio dismissed Monday when he told reporters that the goal is “not about ending the programs that USAID does per se,” but rather ensuring it operates in a responsible, America-centric way.
“USAID has a history of sort of ignoring that and deciding that there’s somehow a global charity separate from the national interest,” Rubio said. “These are taxpayer dollars, and we owe the American people the assurances that every dollar we are spending abroad is being spent on something that furthers our national interest.”
With a staff of roughly 10,000, USAID oversees humanitarian aid and development programs in about 120 countries. The agency’s scope has expanded over the years to include more and more controversial programs.
Musk called the organization “evil” and “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” in social media posts Sunday. He referenced investigations showing USAID was involved with coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, in 2019, as well as allegations that the agency funded censorship and gender ideology initiatives abroad.
USAID received roughly $32 billion in fiscal year 2024, which it has spent to address global food insecurity, AIDS/HIV prevention, and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, among other things.
Democrats held an emergency public press conference Monday afternoon, accusing Trump and Musk of violating the law by defying Congress.
“Congress has appropriated foreign assistance to protect U.S. interests and global stability. The Trump freeze on foreign assistance has halted vital humanitarian aid and medical deliveries that have already been paid for,” Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., said. “It’s not only a complete waste of American tax dollars, it’s directly ceding the competition for influence to U.s. adversaries like China.”
Democrats pledged to fight the changes and especially Musk’s influence over administrative decisions.
“Congress writes the law, not Elon Musk,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., added on social media. “We will not abide an illegal takeover of the United States government by a billionaire who nobody voted for.”