There is more drama and internal tussle currently in the U.S.A. Elon Musk’s DOGE and the USAID are currently on a standoff outside the head office of USAID.
A clamor for secret files, emails, classified documents and access to a building. Supporters of Trump delighted while others stay confused and unhappy. Then there is public feud on social media. This is like a Hollywood style drama.
There are two heavyweights in this tussle. One has been in existence since the time of Kennedy. The other, came not long ago. Who are these two institutions:
USAID
United States Agency for International Development. a humanitarian agency of the us government set up by John F Kennedy in 1961. its job is to run aid missions across the world like vaccination programs, humanitarian shipments and college scholarships. It is the biggest donor in the whole world. it makes up 42 percent of all UN AID. The organization has programs in about 51 countries.
DOGE:
Department of Government Efficiency: its job is to downsize the U.S government whether by firing or cutting budgets. USAID is the prime target of DOGE. President Trump has already frozen many foreign aids and now the attention has been drawn of USAID. Reports say DOGE officials tried to enter the head office of USAID in Washington. Their entry was denied by the security officers. DOGE officials finally entered the building after they threatened to involve the US Marshalls. The DOGE officials accessed files, emails, and documents.
Musk’s Problem With USAID
Elon musk has called for the closure of the Agency, calling it a criminal organization and a viper’s nest. He says the organization is politically partisan and beyond repairs. He stated the the organization funds radical left missions globally and sometimes anti American ones. USAID has also been accused of meddling in the affairs of other countries. For these reasons Elon wants it shut down and his close ally, President Trump agrees though he has not confirmed it.
Way Forward
Reports say Trump want to downsize the organization and most likely fold it within the State government. This would certainly mean slow death for USAID. Already, about one hindered staff have been put on leave. The USAID website and twitter accounts have all been taken down since Saturday. Clearly this is the end of USAID. Interestingly most of Trump’s supporters agree with him and do not want America’s money spent outside.
Humanitarian Implications
Many humanitarian programs have stopped throughout the world. In Sierra for instance, workers on a USAID site were told to stop work due to Trump’s fury. Vaccination and Sanitation programs worldwide would come to a halt.
Former U.S officials believe USAID is an extension of the CIA and have been accused of meddling in the affairs of other countries and sometimes influencing descent. Iran, Venezuela, Georgia and Hungary have all made accusations of USAID meddling in its affairs and destabilizing regimes. USAID has been described by some as a CIA B team pretending to be humanitarian.
In view of these accusations, if found true, Donald Trump should allow the “new USAID” under State government be accountable by helping build the societies it has allegedly destroyed. Millions of people have been displaced and become refugees because of wars fought by America or wars influenced by America. At least, the sanitation programs, the vaccination programs, and humanitarian aids should be completed.
