The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been directed to cease operations by Friday, following an initiative led by Elon Musk to dismantle the organization, which he labeled a "criminal entity."
The State Department is now working rapidly to recall thousands of personnel stationed in over 100 countries worldwide, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters.
Peter Marocco, an appointee from former President Donald Trump's administration, instructed all USAID employees and their families to return to the U.S. by Friday. However, this deadline could be extended if necessary.
According to CBS News, if the State Department fails to repatriate foreign personnel, the U.S. military will take over the evacuation process. Additionally, USAID staff members working at the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters received a memorandum stating that they were being placed on administrative leave, as reported by PBS NewsHour journalist Lisa Desjardins.
The memo stated that employees must remain available for work if directed but are not permitted to enter USAID offices, access agency systems, or exercise any authority on behalf of the organization without prior authorization from Marocco or a supervisor.
Two individuals placed on administrative leave revealed that each department within USAID had been instructed to maintain a minimal staff presence to facilitate the closure of various programs.
This development follows the Trump administration’s broader initiative to integrate USAID—Washington’s primary humanitarian aid agency, which oversees billions of dollars in foreign aid—into the State Department. Upon taking office, Trump had already suspended most foreign aid to align with his "America First" policy.
Last week, dozens of USAID workers were placed on leave under stop-work orders, and hundreds of internal contractors were laid off. By Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio assumed the role of acting head of USAID, citing the agency’s lack of responsiveness and accusing its staff of being unwilling to provide basic information about its programs.
Rubio also informed Congress of the impending restructuring, indicating that some segments of USAID would be absorbed into the State Department, while others would be dismantled entirely. On the same day, agency employees reported being locked out of USAID's computer systems. Those still with access received emails stating that, under agency leadership’s directive, the headquarters building would be closed to staff on Monday, February 3.
Copies of the email indicate that responses were directed to Gavin Kliger, one of six engineers affiliated with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which appears to be operating under the White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
As of Monday morning, USAID's official website had been deactivated. Visitors to the site were met with an error message stating, "This site can’t be reached."
Additionally, the Trump administration placed two senior security officials at USAID on leave after they refused to hand over classified information from restricted areas to Musk’s government inspection teams. Eventually, members of DOGE accessed the agency’s classified files, which contained intelligence reports, a former official stated.
The DOGE team reportedly lacked the necessary security clearances to access this information, leading USAID security officials John Voorhees and deputy Brian McGill to deny them entry, believing they were legally bound to do so.
Musk had previously criticized USAID on social media, alleging that it was a corrupt organization managed by extremists. He subsequently led a civilian review of the federal government, with Trump’s approval.
"It’s not just a rotten apple—it’s an entire infestation of worms," Musk remarked about the decades-old international development agency. "The only solution is to dismantle it entirely; it’s beyond repair."
In an audio-only discussion on X, Musk confirmed the shutdown. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX noted that he had spoken with Trump, and both agreed that the agency should be closed.
When questioned about the decision, Trump commended Musk for his oversight of the agency. "Look at all the fraud he uncovered," Trump said, arguing that USAID funds were being allocated to unworthy recipients.
USAID had employed over 10,000 individuals, two-thirds of whom worked overseas, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. The agency was originally founded in 1961 to combat global poverty, support human rights, promote public health, and bolster democracy during the Cold War.
In the fiscal year 2023, USAID managed more than $40 billion in appropriations, representing less than 1% of the federal budget. These funds supported development and assistance initiatives in approximately 130 countries. For the current fiscal year, the administration had requested $28.3 billion for foreign assistance programs.
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