Why Trump and Musk Are Targeting USAID

President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk have launched a full-frontal assault on the United States Agency for International Development. Pending a review, Trump has ordered a pause to all US foreign aid — with some exceptions — and Musk has threatened to shut down the independent government agency entirely, arguing that it’s not aligned with American interests.

Dozens of senior USAID leaders have been placed on administrative leave and employees have been locked out of the agency’s headquarters in Washington.

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[mrturbo]

Because they are corrupt. Case closed.

[TorvulBerry]

It's not the percentage. It's where and who gets the money. That's what Americans want to know.

[p.thomaschen]

The evil hand behind global chaos and wars

[Mister]

No, what WAS USAID would be the proper question. Halt ALL foreign aid until our budget is balanced & debt paid in FULL.

[rob]

This guy is trying to convince us that it's just one percent of annual budget is laughable. Our country is failing so badly. I've never seen people struggling in my life like I do now.

[matrox]

How much is Bloomberg getting from USAID??

[mattgwyn]

We should never been feeding other countries especially on taxpayers money

[SummertimeDebo]

We couldn't even support the hurricane and wildfire victims. But send money to other country to support stupid things

[RovingRoninEDC]

“What is USAID and can Trump, Elon Musk and Secretary of State really shut it down?” 🤔
Seems a pointless questions to ask AFTER they did it. It’s sort of like someone coming up to you and telling you to go piss up a rope. What’s the point in telling them “you can’t say that to me” once they have and it’s already be proven that they can ??

[mccrayjimmie]

Don't matter if it's 1% . It amount to billions of dollars, give that money to help Americans citizens

[ljlarrea]

Cough 50 million for condoms in African Gaza.

[lautaroaguilar]

USAID being gone makes me and my pocket happy. 🎉

[potfreemason]

"The U.S. deficit can vary from day to day, but In February 2024, it was $298 billion.
Explanation
The U.S. debt increases by about $1 trillion every 100 days.
The U.S. spends over $2.6 billion per day on interest.
Interest is the fastest growing part of the federal budget.
The cost of paying interest on the U.S. debt has doubled since 2020.
Factors that affect the U.S. deficit
Interest costs: As the federal debt increases, the government spends more on interest costs. This crowds out public investments that are important for economic growth.
Government spending: The total amount of money the government spends in a year.
Government revenue: The total amount of money the government receives in a year.
You can track the U.S. deficit using the Bipartisan Policy Center's Deficit Tracker."

[chrishedlund]

Close it down. Only $40 billion annually. A mere pittance. Us stupid taxpayers don’t care

[dbhupinder]

not once this guy said what kind of things they are spending money on!

[aigretbenoit]

Tell me you are on the payroll without telling me you are on the payroll
😂 ITS ALL A SCAM

[TheNetwork]

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 authorized and restructured U.S. foreign aid programs, but it did not explicitly create USAID by name. Instead, it provided the legal framework for the executive branch to reorganize foreign assistance.

Following the passage of the Act, President Kennedy used executive authority to establish USAID via an executive order on November 3, 1961. This formally created the agency as the primary organization responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. So while Congress authorized the funding and structure, the actual creation of USAID as an agency was an executive action.

Usaid has nothing to do with aid. It has to do with foreign development and was created by executive order by John f Kennedy. USA falls under the executive branch being that it was created by an executive order and can be dismantled by the executive branch with an executive order just the same cry about it

[capturethis]

Shut it all down! Can’t even fix the roads here!!!

[kransurfing]

Nice statistic bending... 1% of the federal budget is $60 billion dont think you realise how much they spend

[gregoryhoffman]

Needs to be a sub department of the state department & actions fully accountable to the president. USAID has gone rouge, going against US interest for a long time.