The Trump administration has initiated steps to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), sparking fierce opposition from lawmakers and aid workers.
In an unprecedented move, USAID employees were locked out of their Washington, D.C., headquarters for a second consecutive day, as part of a broader effort led by billionaire Elon Musk to streamline federal agencies.
According to a senior White House official, President Trump has tasked Musk with assessing the efficiency of USAID and exploring its potential merger into the State Department.
The decision has prompted protests from Democratic lawmakers, with Senators Brian Schatz and Chris Van Hollen vowing to block confirmations of State Department nominees in response.
"We don't have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk," said U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, as he joined dozens of furloughed employees in a rally outside the agency’s locked doors.
Internal communications obtained by Reuters indicate that USAID workers have been instructed to work remotely, heightening concerns over the agency’s future.
USAID, known for distributing billions in humanitarian aid worldwide, has been in turmoil since Trump froze most U.S. foreign aid shortly after taking office.