USAID staff told to work remotely as HQ closes on Monday: CNN

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Feb 2025 19:41

Earlier in the day, Elon Musk publicly claimed that President Donald Trump had agreed to shut down USAID.

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The US Agency for International Development, or USAID, is pictured on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

CNN reported on Monday that employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters in Washington, DC, were informed that the office would be closed for the day. Staff received an internal email instructing them to work remotely, except for essential personnel.

"At the direction of Agency leadership, the USAID headquarters at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington, DC will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, February 3, 2025. Agency personnel normally assigned to work at USAID headquarters will work remotely tomorrow, with the exception of personnel with essential on-site and building maintenance functions individually contacted by senior leadership," the email stated, according to CNN.

Musk's role in USAID shutdown

Fox News, citing sources, reported that signage had been removed from USAID's headquarters, coinciding with Elon Musk's pledge to dismantle the agency. Employees from Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have reportedly gained access to USAID's computer systems, fueling speculation about the agency's future.

Earlier in the day, Musk publicly claimed that President Donald Trump had agreed to shut down USAID. On X, Musk reiterated his position, calling USAID a "criminal organization" and a "nest of radical left-wing Marxists who hate America."

The move is part of a broader effort by Musk, who is leading Trump's government cost-cutting initiative, aimed at reducing federal spending and eliminating programs deemed unnecessary. During a discussion on X alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, Musk emphasized that dismantling USAID was a priority under Trump's agenda.

"It's beyond repair," Musk said, adding that Trump fully supports its shutdown.

Security and political fallout

The abrupt closure follows the removal of two senior USAID security officials over the weekend, according to Reuters. The officials were reportedly dismissed after attempting to block Musk's DOGE representatives from accessing restricted areas inside the agency's headquarters. The move has raised concerns about the growing influence of Musk's team within government institutions.

Beyond USAID, Musk's team has also taken control of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), reportedly locking career civil servants out of critical systems. Critics warn that these actions are part of a larger effort to downsize the federal workforce and install Trump-aligned personnel in key agencies.

Senator Peter Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, condemned the administration's decision to give Musk's team access to government financial systems, which contain sensitive taxpayer data.

"It's a gross abuse of power by an unelected bureaucrat, and it shows money can buy power in the Trump White House," Welch said in a statement.

Foreign aid suspension and Ukraine's USAID operations

The developments follow Trump's executive order suspending foreign development aid for 90 days to assess whether current programs align with US foreign policy objectives.

Ukraine has already felt the impact of the policy shift. Broadcaster Suspilne reported that USAID's office in Ukraine had been instructed to halt all projects, reinforcing speculation that the agency's funding may be permanently frozen.