Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, has taken control of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of his new role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump. His move has sparked controversy, especially after he made strong statements against the agency.

Musk criticized USAID on his social media platform, X, calling it a “criminal organization” and saying, “Time for it to die.” He also accused the agency of being run by “radical-left Marxists who hate America” and labeled it as “evil.”

Reports from Fox News reveal that over 50 senior USAID officials were placed on administrative leave and restricted from speaking to anyone outside the agency. Additionally, signs were removed from USAID’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, and DOGE took control of the agency’s computer systems.

USAID, an independent agency, is responsible for distributing foreign aid and development assistance to other countries. In 2024, it managed approximately $40 billion in government funds.

Initially, DOGE was denied access to USAID’s classified materials, leading to the suspension of two top security officials who refused to hand over information. However, on Saturday, DOGE successfully obtained access to intelligence reports and other sensitive data.

This takeover raises questions about USAID’s future and how the Trump administration plans to handle foreign aid moving forward. With Musk at the helm, significant changes are expected in how the U.S. government manages international development and funding.