Tue Feb 04 17:11:43 IST 2025: **USAID Headquarters Shut Down Amidst Controversial Trump-Musk Collaboration**

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a dramatic and controversial move, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters was shut down Monday, with staff barred from entry and police tape sealing off the lobby. The closure follows an announcement by Elon Musk that President Donald Trump had agreed to dismantle the agency, a decision that has sparked outrage among Democrats and raised concerns about the extent of Musk’s influence over the federal government.

Musk, who is leading a civilian review of the federal government under Trump’s direction, claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that USAID was “beyond repair,” describing it as a “ball of worms.” Trump himself confirmed the shutdown, stating it “should have been done a long time ago” and asserting he didn’t need congressional approval.

The closure is part of a broader, rapid dismantling of USAID. Thousands of employees have been laid off, programs worldwide halted, and the agency’s website taken offline. Democratic lawmakers, attempting to enter the headquarters Monday, were blocked by law enforcement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite USAID’s decades-long status as an independent agency, claimed to be the acting administrator, having delegated authority to a controversial political appointee with a history of pushing for program cuts.

The shutdown has upended decades of U.S. foreign policy, jeopardizing billions of dollars in humanitarian aid, development programs, and security initiatives crucial to countering adversaries like China and Russia. Democrats have vehemently condemned the action, calling it illegal and vowing legal challenges. They pointed to the halting of vital programs such as HIV/AIDS treatment in Africa and education initiatives in Afghanistan.

The speed and scope of the USAID shutdown underscore the sweeping power Musk and Trump are wielding, raising concerns about potential abuses of power and the implications for U.S. global standing. The incident has ignited a constitutional crisis, with Democrats vowing to fight back through legal action and legislative means, despite their minority status in Congress. The controversy surrounding the USAID closure and the broader impact of Musk’s government review continues to unfold.

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