Elon Musk Says Trump Agrees USAID Should Be Shut Down Amid Growing Controversy

CNN — Elon Musk revealed that President Donald Trump is in agreement that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) should be “shut down.” This statement follows days of speculation about the agency’s future after its funding was frozen and numerous employees were placed on leave.

Musk made the remarks during a conversation on X Spaces early Monday, explaining that he had discussed the matter in detail with Trump. “With regards to the USAID stuff, I went over it with (the president) in detail and he agreed that we should shut it down,” Musk said, adding that he had checked with Trump “a few times” to confirm the president’s position.

USAID, which disburses billions in humanitarian aid and development funding annually, has long been a key player in global efforts to combat poverty, health crises, and promote economic development in struggling regions. The potential shutdown of such an influential agency has sparked widespread concern among international aid organizations and foreign policy experts.

Before Musk’s comments, Trump had also weighed in on the agency’s future. On Sunday evening, when asked by reporters for his thoughts on USAID, Trump responded, “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision” about the agency’s future.

CNN has reached out to both the White House and USAID for comment, but there has been no official response as of yet. The developments mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, with the potential shutdown of USAID becoming a focal point of political debate.