WASHINGTON — Staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were instructed to stay out of the agency’s Washington headquarters on February 3, following billionaire Elon Musk’s announcement that President Donald Trump had agreed with him to close the agency. According to sources, over 600 employees reported being locked out of USAID’s computer systems overnight, while those still in the system received emails stating that, “at the direction of Agency leadership,” the headquarters would remain closed to personnel.

The announcement comes in the wake of Musk’s assertion during a live session on X Spaces early Monday, in which he claimed to have discussed USAID with Trump and stated, “He agreed we should shut it down.” Musk characterized USAID's issues as, “not an apple with a worm in it,” but rather “a ball of worms.” He added, “You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair,” and declared, “We’re shutting it down.”

The development signals an escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle parts of the federal bureaucracy, with Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gaining significant influence. The agency, responsible for humanitarian, development, and security programs in over 120 countries, has been targeted by Trump and some Republican lawmakers, who accuse it of promoting liberal causes.

In the previous days, two top security chiefs at USAID were placed on leave after they denied access to classified materials for Musk’s inspection teams, thus raising concerns about the breach of protocol in accessing sensitive information. DOGE had previously conducted similar inspections at the Treasury Department, leading to the resignation of a senior official there. The political motives behind these actions have prompted protests from Democratic lawmakers who argue that Trump lacks the constitutional authority to close down such an agency without congressional approval.

The situation escalated further when uniformed personnel from the Department of Homeland Security were seen blocking the lobby of USAID’s headquarters, effectively sealing off access. The agency's website unexpectedly went offline the prior Saturday without explanation.

USAID has faced increasing constraints in its operations, especially with a freeze on foreign assistance pushed by the Trump administration, leading to significant layoffs among aid organizations. This shift has raised alarms about the detrimental impacts on global humanitarian efforts, including programs critical to combating diseases and providing education to vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the moves, asserting that allowing Musk access to private information and flawed funding processes endangered public welfare. “We must do everything in our power to push back and protect people from harm,” she argued.

The drastic measures being instituted reflect a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid policy and governance, with ramifications likely to be felt globally as the aid community grapples with these unprecedented changes.

For further details, visit SFGate, Los Angeles Times, and HuffPost.