Elon Musk: USAID a ‘criminal organization’ that should ‘die’

Elon Musk said in a post on Sunday that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is a “criminal organization” that should “die.” His remarks came after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team reportedly accessed the agency’s systems and uncovered billions of dollars in fraudulent payments.

“USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die,” Musk said on X.

USAID is a criminal organization.

Time for it to die. https://t.co/sWYy6fyt1k

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2025

USAID is a ‘Criminal Organization’ That Should ‘Die’ Musk Said

Musk didn’t stop there. During an X Spaces session, Musk compared USAID to a “ball of worms,” arguing that the agency is beyond saving. “If you have an apple with a worm in it, you can take the worm out,” he wrote. “If you have a whole ball of worms, it’s hopeless. USAID is a ball of worms. There is no apple. And when there is no apple you just need to get rid of the whole thing. That’s why it’s got to go. It’s beyond repair.”

🚨ELON MUSK: “As we dug into USAID it became apparent that what we have here is not an apple with a worm in it, but we have actually just a ball of worms. If you have an apple with a worm in it, you can take the worm out. If you have a whole ball of worms, it’s hopeless. USAID is… pic.twitter.com/fd00gMFmqS

— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) February 3, 2025

Musk’s comments followed reports that senior USAID officials were placed on leave after physically trying to stop DOGE from gaining system access. NBC News also reported that these officials attempted to block members of Musk’s newly formed advisory board from reviewing secured agency systems.

Two USAID officials, John Voorhees and his deputy, were among those suspended late Saturday night after refusing to grant DOGE members access to USAID systems. DOGE personnel, who were attempting to retrieve security and personnel files, reportedly threatened to involve law enforcement after being denied entry.

This latest development comes after 60 USAID employees were placed on leave last week for allegedly trying to bypass President Trump’s executive order aimed at halting foreign aid.

USAID’s Future Under Trump Administration

The Trump administration is reportedly targeting USAID as part of broader federal restructuring efforts. A three-page letter revealed that President Trump is considering merging the agency into a branch under the State Department, a move that some officials believe is intended to curb government corruption and inefficiency.

USAID, established in 1961, manages a budget exceeding $50 billion and employs approximately 10,000 people, not including contractors. About two-thirds of its workforce operates overseas.

In the past few days, several federal websites, including USAID’s, have gone offline.