Woman eating a crust at the foot of an Usaid flag.
Usaid offers programs for many fronts of international cooperation. Its budget is US$40 billion a year.

¿Bye, bye USAID?

The main international cooperation arm of the United States is under siege. Musk says Trump is shutting down the agency amid his drastic cutback plan.

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For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been the U.S. government's main channel for international cooperation. Its work has ranged from humanitarian assistance in conflict zones to economic development and institutional strengthening programs in developing countries.

In recent months, however, Usaid has become the center of a political and media storm following accusations from figures such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk and various content creators on digital platforms. The controversy has escalated to the point where his continuity is in question.

Since his first administration, Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about Usaid's role in U.S. foreign policy. He sought to significantly reduce its budget, arguing that much of the funding did not benefit national interests. With his possible return to power, he has intensified his criticism, pointing to alleged diversion of resources and lack of transparency.

Elon Musk has amplified this criticism through his social media. On X (formerly Twitter), he has called Usaid a "snake pit of radical left-wing Marxists who hate America," insinuating that the agency funds covert political activities rather than humanitarian projects. Musk has also spread accusations without evidence, such as that Usaid funded biological weapons research, including COVID-19.

Added to this are various theories spread by youtubers and content creators, who claim that the agency has been involved in destabilizing governments adverse to U.S. foreign policy and funding groups with interests aligned with Washington.

The final blow!

The situation came to a head on Monday when Musk announced that Usaid will "shut down" under the Trump administration. This measure, considered illegal by his detractors, generated immediate chaos within the agency. Hours later, the head of diplomacy, Marco Rubio, specified that Usaid would not disappear, but would come under his control.

While the confusion was being cleared up, employees were instructed by e-mail not to come to work. Around 1,000 workers found the agency's computer system blocked, its X account suspended and its website disabled. Several key figures were placed on administrative leave.

In front of Usaid headquarters in Washington, about 50 protesters gathered with banners reading "Save Usaid, Save Lives." The agency, which funds health and emergency programs in more than 120 countries, has been seen as a key tool of U.S. "soft power" to counter the influence of powers such as China.

An unconstitutional decision?

The announcement has generated fierce debate over its legality. Democrats in Congress have warned that it is an "unconstitutional power grab". Usaid operates on a budget approved by Congress, and its dissolution or restructuring requires legislative approval. However, Musk argues that his so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) can decide how federal resources are used.

The problem lies in the fact that Musk, while a key Trump advisor, is not a federal official, raising serious questions about his actual authority over the agency. His team even attempted to access U.S. Treasury payment systems, alarming lawmakers such as Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who denounced the attempt as a "blatant disregard for the law."

For his part, Trump tried to calm tempers by assuring that Musk "will not do anything without our approval".

Political and global impact

Shutting down or restructuring USAID would have enormous implications both domestically and internationally. The Republican far right argues that the U.S. squanders money on international aid while ignoring domestic needs. Yet the agency represents just a fraction of federal spending: its $40 billion budget is tiny compared to the nearly $7 trillion total U.S. government budget.

Internationally, dismantling USAID could weaken U.S. influence in strategic regions and open spaces for China and other powers to fill the vacuum. Figures such as Matthew Kavanagh, director of Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Policy, have warned that this would be a "disaster for U.S. foreign policy."

The allegations against Usaid reflect a broader debate about international assistance and U.S. foreign policy. While there are legitimate criticisms of its efficiency and transparency, so far no conclusive evidence of conspiracies or systematic corruption has been presented.

Usaid's future will depend on political decisions in Washington and how public opinion on international aid evolves. What is certain is that the agency has entered one of the most uncertain phases in its history, with an outcome yet to be defined.

 

With information from AFP

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