Two top security officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were placed on administrative leave on Saturday night after attempting to refuse officials from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to USAID systems and personnel files, including classified information. The incident occurred after DOGE personnel, who were physically stopped by USAID security, threatened to call in the US Marshals to gain access to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC.
According to sources, DOGE personnel wanted to gain access to USAID’s security systems, personnel files, and classified information, sparking concerns about national security. The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between DOGE and USAID.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern about the incident, which she described as “incredibly serious and unprecedented.” Shaheen has called for an investigation into the matter and is working with a group of bipartisan senators to address the issue.
Elon Musk, founder of DOGE, responded to CNN’s report on the incident, stating that “USAID is a criminal organization” and tweeting “Time for it to die.” The condemnation comes as there are reports that President Donald Trump intends to abolish USAID and fold it into the US State Department.
USAID’s website went dark on Saturday, and its social media accounts were shut down. The move follows Trump’s executive order pausing all foreign aid for 90 days, which has led to widespread confusion, layoffs, and program shutdowns.
The incident has also raised concerns about the potential dismantling of USAID, which has been a key tool for the US government in promoting democracy, development, and humanitarian aid around the world. Aid officials argue that the State Department is not equipped to take over and sustain USAID’s development projects, and that its unique soft power approach to international development cannot be replicated.
