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Donald Trump moves to revamp USAID with Elon Musk’s help to boost efficiency
- Trump's administration is working on a plan to merge USAID with the State Department to streamline operations. Musk has been given the task of leading the transformation and has declared USAID will be “shutting down.” Rubio has assumed control of the agency to end its non-compliance.
US President Donald Trump and his team are in talks about merging the US Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State Department, aiming to downsize the agency’s workforce for greater efficiency, according to a senior White House official. Trump is also relying on Elon Musk to lead the project.
The Trump administration is expected to notify Congress soon about the restructuring, which aligns with Trump’s push to streamline government operations and reduce spending in line with his priorities. Musk, a close advisor to Trump, has been entrusted with overseeing the transformation.
Rubio assumes control of USAID, vows to end ‘insubordination’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Monday that he has taken charge of USAID, aiming to put an end to what he described as the agency’s "insubordination" to Trump’s agenda. Rubio, on a visit to El Salvador, emphasized the need to conduct a serious review, which he said was impossible as long as the agency refused to cooperate.
Musk declares USAID 'shutting down' amid Government overhaul
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, announced Monday that USAID will be "shutting down" as part of a sweeping government overhaul endorsed by President Trump. Musk, a close Trump ally and major donor to his campaign, called the agency a “criminal organization” and stated that it needed to be completely dismantled.
Around 600 USAID employees were locked out of their computer systems, and staff were instructed not to report to their offices. Musk’s radical push to shrink the US government has sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of overstepping his authority.
Trump says Musk only acting with approval
President Trump defended Elon Musk’s involvement in the USAID shutdown, stating that Musk’s actions were fully approved. Trump clarified that Musk would not intervene in areas where conflicts of interest exist. Musk’s efforts to overhaul the government are part of his broader mission to streamline US operations, a move that has generated significant debate among critics and supporters alike.
(With Reuters, AFP inputs)
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Business NewsNewsUs NewsDonald Trump moves to revamp USAID with Elon Musk’s help to boost efficiency
First Published:3 Feb 2025, 10:56 PM IST
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