By Frankie TAGGART/AFP – America authorities’s large humanitarian company closed its headquarters to employees on 3 February amid strikes by Elon Musk, the world’s richest particular person and President Donald Trump’s controversial aide, to grab management in actions decried by critics as “plain unlawful.”
Staff on the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) have been instructed to remain out of its Washington workplace after its web site went darkish over the weekend, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Monday it will come beneath his management.
Rubio mentioned in an announcement the company had “lengthy strayed from its authentic mission of responsibly advancing American pursuits overseas” and that he was launching a overview of its actions forward of a “potential reorganization.”
However there was widespread confusion, as some 600 staffers discovered themselves locked out of their pc techniques, ABC Information reported.
Democrats have been denied entry to the general public foyer of the company’s headquarters by police blocking the doorways as they joined round 50 demonstrators brandishing banners demanding: “Save USAID, save lives.”
They blasted Trump for handing administration coverage to an unelected tycoon who has undergone no background checks or affirmation course of and has evident conflicts of curiosity as one the biggest authorities contractors.
“It is a brazen try by a billionaire who no person voted for, to illegally and unconstitutionally steal from taxpayers so he may give himself a tax break,” mentioned Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern.
Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly angrily insisted that Musk had no authorized proper to shutter a company created by an act of Congress.
“It’s a matter of statute. It’s a matter for Congress to take care of, not an unelected billionaire oligarch named Elon Musk,” he mentioned. “And Elon, if you wish to run USAID, get nominated by Trump and go to the Senate. Good luck in getting confirmed.”
‘Abuse of energy’
The help arm of US international coverage, USAID funds well being and emergency applications in round 120 international locations, together with the world’s poorest areas.
It’s seen as a significant supply of sentimental energy for the USA in its battle for affect with rivals together with China, the place Musk has in depth enterprise pursuits.
The SpaceX and Tesla CEO referred to as USAID “a viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America” and added that he had personally cleared the unprecedented transfer with the president.
Trump instructed reporters within the Oval Workplace that Musk “can’t do and received’t do something with out our approval” — however he additionally made it clear that he was on the identical web page because the South African-born billionaire.
Requested if he agreed that solely an act of Congress might shutter USAID, he replied, “I don’t assume so — not in relation to fraud… These persons are lunatics.”
It was the second day working that Trump had accused USAID of fraud, with out providing any clarification or element.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen referred to as Musk’s plan a “corrupt abuse of energy” and a “reward to our adversaries” that’s “plain unlawful.”
“Elon Musk might get to be dictator of Tesla, and he might attempt to play dictator right here in Washington DC, however he doesn’t get to close down the Company for Worldwide Improvement,” Van Hollen mentioned.
Congress has authority over the US finances however Musk argues his so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) can determine how cash is used.
Private knowledge
The tempo and depth of Musk’s operation, which is utilizing workers introduced from his personal firms, has caught opponents off guard.
In a single particularly tense episode, Musk’s crew insisted on having access to the Treasury’s extremely delicate fee system, which is used for dispatching trillions of {dollars} a yr and incorporates Individuals’ private knowledge.
The assault on USAID comes within the context of long-running narratives on the hard-line conservative and libertarian wings of the Republican Get together that the USA wastes cash on foreigners whereas ignoring Individuals.
The company describes itself as working “to finish excessive poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies whereas advancing our safety and prosperity.”
Its finances of greater than $40 billion is a small drop in total US authorities annual spending of almost $7 trillion.
Amongst different criticisms, which Musk has not substantiated, he claims USAID does “rogue CIA work” and even “funded bioweapon analysis, together with Covid-19, that killed thousands and thousands of individuals.”
One particular person welcoming the obvious loss of life knell for the help company was former Russian president — and ally to present ruler Vladimir Putin — Dmitry Medvedev.
“Good transfer by @elonmusk, attempting to plug USAID’s Deep Throat,” Medvedev posted on X.
© Agence France-Presse
