Trump, Musk Slam USAID As ‘Incompetent’ And ‘Corrupt,’ Push For Major Government Cuts | N18G
On February 11, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk criticized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), calling it “incompetent” and “corrupt.” Musk, appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency, acknowledged USAID’s positive contributions but argued the agency oversteps by attempting to influence elections in questionable ways. Trump reaffirmed his commitment to government oversight, extending it beyond USAID to sectors like education and the military. This criticism follows Trump’s January 20 order to freeze most U.S. foreign aid, halting billions in global assistance, which affected numerous programs including disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Musk has expressed his intent to dismantle USAID, describing it as “beyond repair.” The U.S. disbursed $72 billion through USAID in 2023, representing 42% of global humanitarian aid. Musk also claimed that “professional foreign fraud rings” were exploiting U.S. funds, though no evidence was provided for these accusations.