The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is facing increased scrutiny after two senior security officials were placed on leave following an alleged altercation with a government task force led by billionaire Elon Musk. This incident comes amid former President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to freeze U.S. funding to South Africa over its land expropriation policies, raising further concerns about the administration’s approach to foreign aid.
Musk, who was appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accused USAID of being a “criminal organization” after agency staff reportedly denied his task force members access to secure areas at the agency’s Washington headquarters. Musk expressed his frustration on social media, writing, “Time for it to die,” echoing Trump’s broader agenda to reduce foreign aid.
Reports indicate that USAID’s security director, John Voorhees, and his deputy, Brian McGill, were suspended after they blocked DOGE personnel from entering restricted areas due to their lack of proper security clearance. However, other reports, including one from CNN, suggested that the DOGE representatives were eventually granted access to the classified sections. Despite these reports, the White House dismissed them as “fake news.” Steven Cheung, White House communications director, criticized the media’s handling of the situation.
Katie Miller, a DOGE official, clarified on X that “no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances,” seeming to confirm that an attempt to access sensitive areas had occurred.
This incident has intensified fears that Trump, who has already frozen most foreign aid, may move to drastically cut or eliminate USAID entirely. Over the weekend, the agency’s official website went offline, and a minimal page was posted under the State Department’s domain, prompting speculation that USAID could be merged with the State Department.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, have expressed concerns over the administration’s actions. Coons accused Trump of attempting to dismantle USAID, stating, “President Trump spent two weeks harassing and laying off USAID employees, and now his team is trying to gut the agency altogether.”
Read More: Flood warning issued for Punjab rivers high alert declared
Other Democrats, such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, raised alarm about Musk’s influence in the government, citing concerns over his unelected status and potential national security risks. “This is a five-alarm fire. The people elected Donald Trump to be President – not Elon Musk,” Ocasio-Cortez warned, adding that granting a billionaire with his own foreign interests access to classified U.S. information posed significant risks.
Senator Elizabeth Warren also voiced concerns, warning of the broader implications. “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.
Trump also targeted South Africa, announcing plans to cut off “all future funding” in response to the government’s policy of expropriating white-owned land without compensation. “The United States won’t stand for it. We will act,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, adding that aid would be suspended pending a “full investigation.”
In 2023, the U.S. allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa, with USAID playing a significant role in distributing those funds. In total, the U.S. provided $72 billion in foreign aid to 180 countries last year, with more than half of it administered through USAID.
