Trump faces backlash over Musk-led security breach
The Trump administration has placed two top security service chiefs on leave. According to the Associated Press, they allegedly refused to hand over classified materials to Elon Musk’s team.
Reports indicate that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees did not have the appropriate security clearances to access information from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This agency deals with foreign aid and development, including support for Ukraine.
Two USAID officials, John Vorhees and his deputy Brian McGill, legally refused access to the data. However, on Saturday, DOGE inspectors reportedly gained access to classified information. A similar operation reportedly took place the day before at the Department of State.
Elon Musk established DOGE in cooperation with the Trump administration to identify ways to reduce departmental costs and limit federal regulations. On Saturday, the USAID website was suspended without explanation.
Democrats claim that Trump does not have the authority to abolish an independent agency funded by Congress. USAID's work is crucial for national security, and the United States is the largest donor of humanitarian aid in the world.
Musk announces closure
In a conversation held on platform X with American businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Senator Joni Ernst, Musk claimed that USAID is "beyond repair," while U.S. President Donald Trump believes the agency should be shut down.
Reuters noted that in 2023, USAID allocated approximately $98 billion CAD to international aid, supporting a variety of programs, including women's access to basic healthcare in conflict areas, clean water initiatives, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and anti-corruption efforts. That year, USAID contributed 42% of the global humanitarian aid tracked by the UN.
