this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2025
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Musk says USAID to be shut down, ‘beyond repair’ (www.scmp.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Alsephina@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
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Billionaire Elon Musk, who is heading US President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government, gave an update on the effort early on Monday, saying they were working to shut down the US foreign aid agency USAID.

Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, discussed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Monday social media talk on X, which he also owns. Trump has assigned Musk to lead a federal cost-cutting panel.

The conversation, which included former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, began with Musk saying they were working to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“It’s beyond repair,” Musk said, adding that Trump agrees it should be shut down.

On Sunday, it was reported that the Trump administration had removed two top security officials at USAID during the weekend after they tried to stop representatives from Musk’s DOGE from gaining access to restricted parts of the building, three sources said.

The website of USAID appeared to still be offline on Saturday and some users could not access it on Sunday. USAID has a staff of more than 10,000 people.

Speaking more broadly about cutting US expenses and fraud, Musk estimated the Trump administration can cut US$1 trillion from the US deficit next year.

Musk did not offer any evidence to support his fraud claim or explain how he reached the amount of US$1 trillion.

Since taking office 11 days ago, Trump has embarked on a massive government makeover, firing and sidelining hundreds of civil servants in his first steps toward downsizing the bureaucracy and installing more loyalists.

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 76 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

Genuinely curious why Trump is getting rid of historically the US's most reliable source for regime change. For those who don't know, the vast majority of USAID goes strictly to opposition groups in countries the US is on bad terms with, and to the ruling govrnments and millitaries of those we are on good terms with. It's how the US maintains hegemony. Some USAID went to good people and projects, of course, but never for a second think that that was its primary purpose.

One theory I saw is that the US Imperialists have noticed many of their typical regime change attempts, such as in Bolivia and Venezuela, are failing, therefore it isn't any longer an efficient use of funds. Now the US is pivoting to more open-faced aggression via tariffs and other forms of economic warfare, sanctions, and so forth. The reason, is because US hegemony is weakening, and other countries like the PRC are becoming much better alternatives to deal with.

[–] barrbaric@hexbear.net 21 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It might be simplistic, but I'm always going to go with Occam's Razor on this: Trump and Elon are just that stupid.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 20 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I don't think that's Occam's Razor applied, though. We know the US is controlled by the interests of the bourgeoisie.

[–] ShimmeringKoi@hexbear.net 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Yeah, he is dumb enough to do it but why is he being allowed to?

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

Exactly.

[–] fanbois@hexbear.net 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

In a general sense. In the day to day business these ghouls can and will do things that will hurt their mid/long term interest because it fits their vibe or they don't really get it/know the history.

Elon does want to lead a fascist empire, but the nonsense-ai-crypto-bazinga version in his ketamine-head, not the fairly boring but successful, actually existing empire.

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[–] coolusername@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Elon directly said that USAID had a hand funding covid biolab research

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[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Any question of why Trump does something that doesn't seem to make sense has a very simple answer. He's an idiot. And the answer to your following question is "Yes, he is."

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 32 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Trump is an idiot, but the United States isn't structured in a way where the President can go against the will of the Bourgeoisie. Behind closed doors there are talks and strategies employed, this isn't a new thing.

[–] Sodium_nitride@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

the United States isn’t structured in a way where the President can go against the will of the Bourgeoisie.

I think we are overestimating the amount of solidarity and power of the American bourgeoise, partly because that's the image of strenght they love to project.

The state always holds a dominant position wrt the bourgeoise. If tommorow trump wanted American billionaires merced, there isn't much anyone could do to stop him.

Yes the bourgeoise control american civil society and have some influence over various parts of the government, but trump is the commander of the armed forces and has a strong movement backing him.

[–] freagle@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Remember that the role of the government is to mediate conflict between and among bourgeoisie interests. The one thing the bourgeoisie all agree on is preventing revolution, so that's the state's primary throughline. But the idea that a single member of the bourgeoisie can go against class interests in a meaningful way is an idea that flies in the face of history.

You are correct, however, that these decisions are likely a reflection of division in the bourgeoisie. Trump is acting out the will of a faction that he himself belongs to, possibly even contributes to at a high level. But that's not going to be all of the bourgeoisie. That's why there's an inner circle of operators, a middle circle of supplicants and appeasers, and an outer circle of opposition.

USAID likely had some specific interests it was pursuing and likely was a pet project of a faction or camp in the bourgeoisie. Destroying it sends a signal to that camp. Most of the choices being made in the first couple of weeks are symbolic, and not being members of the bourgeoisie ourselves, we are likely not able to see all of the symbolism, because it's contextual to them.

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I suppose, but ultimately I don't think Trump would be given the levers of power if the people who put him there didn't think he would do something like this.

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[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think that the opposition groups may very well be already established and thus no longer need the kickstart funding, for example LATINUS, (mexican disinformation media, based in the US) is already huge and likely makes a profit from its audience and private donors without the need of USAID or the NED.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's a worrying conclusion, but thank you. That would make sense.

[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

There is another posibility, the national oligarchs are starting to fund these projects from their own pocket, Salinas Pliego in México, Bukele in el Salvador, Noboa in Ecuador... Bukele is a phenom in social media and is the blueprint for all these jackasses.

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[–] onwardknave@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago

Because that's a lot of money that isn't going to his favorite charities.

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[–] huf@hexbear.net 61 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

how will musk coup anyone he wants if he shuts down the coup machine?

[–] rando895@lemmygrad.ml 41 points 2 weeks ago

Probably by creating a private company called "xovernance x" that just goes in and directly coups people.

[–] Sodium_nitride@lemmygrad.ml 27 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't think musk understands the workings of the American empire. He has more important things to tend to than reading theory (get into fights on twitter).

[–] Grapho@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago

Dumbass probably thinks he can save money by directly paying mercenaries and drug cartels to do clandestine operations instead of laundering that shit through NGOs

[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago

he prob wants to funnel all that money to X

[–] EmpireInDecay@lemmy.ml 54 points 2 weeks ago

Shut down a CIA covert operation masquerading as a charity?

Oh no...

[–] PanArab@lemmy.ml 36 points 2 weeks ago (9 children)

USAID was a tool for US imperialism. It may have done some good but the soft power was expended waging wars and committing genocide.

[–] NewOldGuard@hexbear.net 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s good that it’s gone, but this makes me think US imperialism is going to stop trying to curry favor with soft power and kickbacks for compradors, and instead go full mask off and just coup or invade everyone they want shit from. I know that the hard power has been used excessively throughout US history for these goals already but I worry it could ramp up to new levels.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 23 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

These are my concerns as well, there's 0 chance this is an end to Imperialist aggression, just a change in character.

[–] Sodium_nitride@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It may not be intended as an end to aggression, but the soft regime change tactic is a lot cheaper and more effective than direct aggression.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago

It used to be, for sure. It seems as though that hasn't been working as well in recent years.

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[–] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 35 points 2 weeks ago

Heartbreaking: The worst person you know accidentally did something good

[–] Dolores@hexbear.net 27 points 2 weeks ago

i guess USAID was founded by an executive order, so maybe they can do that unilaterally soviet-hmm

[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 16 points 2 weeks ago

Musk is a malignant narcissist Nazi who believes himself to be nearly a god. He is so absolutely amazing that he just knows what it takes us mere humans decades to learn.

[–] DinosaurThussy@hexbear.net 13 points 2 weeks ago

Do USAGM next

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

~~“It just burning money to ‘help people’, they’ve never been in the black. It’s a money sink hole. Completely useless.”

It’s a service that my tax dollars gladly pay for~~ I will not gladly pay for that same money to go into your pocket, you fucking nazi.

Edit: was clarified on the particular organization. Should wake up before reading bad news. I stand by my Nazi statement though.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 20 points 2 weeks ago (10 children)

The vast majority of USAID went to support regime change and help the ruling classes of those we are friendly with. A minority went to helping people. What this means, it is speculated, that the US has realized its last several attempts at regime change in countries like Venezuela and Bolivia have failed due to the emergence of alternatives, therefore it is cheaper to drop it entirely and focus on open economic warfare rather than subtle. Tarriffs, sanctions, etc.

[–] snekerpimp@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Thank you for clarifying for me. Still don’t want that unelected nazi in control of anything in the government.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh, of course. I'm not saying this is necessarily a "good thing," I am more pointing out what we need to watch for. This signals more open aggression, like the United States has been known for, potentially even going to war.

[–] osaerisxero@kbin.melroy.org 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It is spelled 'Lebensraum'

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

Or, "Manifest Destiny." Nazi Germany did find great inspiration in the US, after all!

[–] balsoft@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The vast majority of USAID went to support regime change and help the ruling classes of those we are friendly with. A minority went to helping people.

Do you have a source for that? I honestly thought that USAID was one of the very few "good" things that US was doing (although as always with imperialist countries, it was ultimately in pursuit of soft power, but I digress). I've seen many USAID-sponsored hospitals, kindergartens and museums in poor/developing countries. The numbers they themselves produce (I could only find this 2016/2017 report easily: https://www.cgdev.org/publication/foreign-assistance-agency-brief-usaid) seem to corroborate that the plurality of spending goes towards Health, with Health + Disaster Assistance being the majority. "Development Assistance" + "Transition Initiatives" + "Complex Crises Fund" (part of which is probably all the political stuff) is slightly more than a third of their spending.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It isn't transparent how the money is being spent, usuay it goes to the US approved people who can spend it how they like. A good amount of good is done by it, but the purpose is as you said, soft power and regime change. Ending the program entirely signals a drastic change in strategy, perhaps to hard power.

[–] balsoft@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Ending the program entirely signals a drastic change in strategy, perhaps to hard power.

That's... rather unnerving, but expected given the mask-off nazism now on display. I can only hope that this backfires quickly and not too many lives are lost in the process.

Also I will still mourn the loss of whatever funding USAID was providing, as now many of those facilities will inevitably close down. Life is rough in those places already, can't imagine the horror of learning that you no longer have a hospital because a rich fuck on the other side of the world wanted to see his number go up.

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[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

They won't give you a source because that would require them to have one.

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