Trump administration moves to expose and dismantle USAID amid accusations of widespread corruption

By bellecarter // 2025-02-23

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The second Trump administration's DOGE has launched a review of USAID, accusing it of waste, fraud and covert operations and leading to calls for its abolition.
Founded in 1961, USAID expanded its mission over time, becoming less transparent and accountable after becoming an independent agency in 1998.
DOGE head Elon Musk has criticized USAID, calling for its elimination and terminating $375.1 million in DEI contracts.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele have accused USAID of misusing funds, resisting transparency, and engaging in activities that benefit terrorists or undermine democracy.
Reports from former State Department officials and journalists reveal USAID's involvement in disinformation, censorship and radical political activism, raising concerns about its influence on foreign governments.

The Trump administration, through a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has launched a scathing review of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The revelations have sparked a heated debate over the agency's role, transparency and effectiveness, leading to calls for its abolition. Established by former President John F. Kennedy in 1961, USAID was originally tasked with providing support to developing countries. However, over the decades, the agency has been accused of becoming a tool for domestic political agendas and covert operations, leading to widespread waste, fraud and abuse. USAID was created to consolidate and streamline various foreign assistance programs under the Department of State. Kennedy's vision was to help developing countries acquire the knowledge and resources needed for sustainable development. However, over time, the agency's mission began to expand beyond its original scope, often aligning with the political and strategic interests of the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 1998, USAID became an independent agency. This change, while intended to give the agency more autonomy, led to a significant lack of transparency and accountability. Critics argue that this structural shift facilitated the agency's drift into wasteful and often covert activities, far from its original humanitarian mission.

Trump and Musk's campaign against USAID

Elon Musk, the head of DOGE, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of USAID. During a live discussion, Musk described the agency as a "ball of worms" and stated that it is "beyond repair and should be eliminated." He further directed these sentiments on X, formerly Twitter, labeling USAID a "viper's nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America" and a "radical-left political PsyOp." These comments are backed by concrete actions. (Related: Trump's bold move: Reshaping USAID could redefine U.S. foreign policy.) At the end of the previous month, DOGE tweeted a list of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) contracts terminated within USAID, totaling $375.1 million. The list included seven contracts, highlighting the agency's significant spending on domestic political agendas rather than international aid. The criticism of USAID extends beyond the executive branch. Senator Joni Ernst authored an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, describing USAID as a "rogue agency" that has a history of stonewalling congressional requests for information. Ernst criticized the agency for misusing taxpayer dollars and resisting transparency. The Trump White House also released a fact sheet titled 'At USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs Deep,' which detailed numerous instances of wasteful spending. The document highlighted millions of dollars spent on promoting DEI and LGBT activism in multiple countries, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars paid to support poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan, benefiting the Taliban. International recipients of USAID funding have also voiced their concerns. President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador tweeted, "Cutting this so-called aid isn't just beneficial for the United States; it's also a big win for the rest of the world." Bukele's statement reflects growing skepticism among recipient countries about the true impact and intentions of USAID's assistance.

Censorship, disinformation and covert operations

Former State Department official Mike Benz has provided detailed reports on USAID's activities that go beyond traditional foreign aid. According to Benz, USAID has been involved in radical left-wing cultural and political activism, including disinformation campaigns and censorship efforts in collaboration with the State Department and the CIA. Benz, the founder and executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, revealed a 97-page 'Disinformation Primer' dated February 2021, which outlines USAID's advocacy for economically damaging censorship strategies. This document, created during the Biden administration, raises significant concerns about USAID's role in promoting censorship and undermining democratic processes. Independent journalist Michael Shellenberger has corroborated these findings, writing that USAID's 'Countering Disinformation' program is part of a broader effort to influence and sometimes overthrow governments abroad. The program, funded by USAID, aims to control the narrative through censorship and disinformation, often working in tandem with the CIA and the State Department. In the wake of these revelations, the Trump administration is taking decisive action. Plans include shutting down USAID's head office in Washington, D.C. and firing over 10,000 agency staff. Both Trump and Musk favor abolishing USAID as an agency and transferring its legitimate foreign aid functions back to the State Department. Head over to Trump.news for related stories. Watch the video below that talks about USAID's demise which has sent Democrats into crisis. This video is from the Lori Colley channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump and Musk's campaign against USAID

Censorship, disinformation and covert operations

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