Democrats Protest Against Trump and Musk Over USAID Shutdown
A group of Congressional Democrats held a protest outside the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters on Monday, criticizing President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk for their controversial move to shut down the agency.
The lawmakers, including Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), accused Trump and Musk of overstepping their powers by attempting to dismantle USAID without congressional approval. Rep. Beyer called the move illegal, noting that USAID was established by an act of Congress and could only be disbanded through legislative action.
Rep. Omar voiced concerns about the global impact of USAID’s programs, citing her own experience as a refugee. She argued that dismantling USAID would deprive people around the world of critical resources and support.
Rep. Raskin specifically criticized Musk, accusing him of interfering with government functions and asserting that Musk had no authority to destroy an agency created by Congress. He also addressed concerns about Musk’s influence over other aspects of the government, including the financial payment systems of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The controversy erupted after USAID employees were locked out of the agency’s computer systems, with a notice telling staff to stay away from the headquarters. Musk confirmed that he had discussed the shutdown with Trump, and the pair had agreed to close the agency down. This sparked a backlash from Democrats, who are now preparing to challenge the shutdown in court, setting up a legal and political battle in the coming weeks.
