Trump and Musk Seek to Shut Down USAID: Control Over US Foreign Aid – Rezazade
The first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, said that the Donald Trump administration, together with allies, has taken steps to tighten control over the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) over the past weekend, which could fundamentally change the country’s approach to foreign aid.
Former and current officials say that the administration removed two senior USAID security officials on Saturday after they refused to give representatives from Elon Musk’s office access to the agency’s restricted facilities.
“We’re shutting it down,” Musk
Musk, who heads Trump’s government efficiency initiative, wrote on X (Twitter) that the process of shutting down the agency is already underway.
“I discussed this with Trump in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down. I asked him several times, ‘Are you sure?’ And the answer was ‘yes,’” the billionaire said.
After the removal of two security chiefs, John Voorhees and his deputy, some lawmakers have raised concerns about possible breaches of security protocols. USAID is the world’s largest provider of food aid, and its drastic reduction or elimination could have global implications.
The events fuel speculation that Trump is planning to either eliminate the agency entirely or integrate it into the State Department. They also underscore the growing influence of unofficial advisers, including Musk, over government decisions.
The changes signal the administration’s intent to shift to a more transactional approach to foreign policy, focusing government spending solely on programs that directly benefit American citizens.
По теме
According to the Israeli Emergency Medical Services (MDA), two people were killed in an Iranian ballistic missile strike in central Israel.
Amid the escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran, there are signs of attempts to restore informal diplomatic channels. According to information circulating in the media, direct contacts may have been restored between the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in recent days.
На фоне обострения конфликта между США и Ираном появляются сигналы о попытках восстановления неформальных дипломатических каналов. По информации, циркулирующей в медиа, между спецпосланником США по Ближнему Востоку Стивом Виткоффом и министром иностранных дел Ирана Аббасом Арагчи в последние дни могли возобновиться прямые контакты.
After two weeks of fighting between the US, Israel and Iran, Washington claims significant military successes. US President Donald Trump emphasizes that the operation is progressing faster than planned, and the United States is “well ahead of schedule.”
Після двох тижнів бойових дій між США, Ізраїлем та Іраном Вашингтон заявляє про значні військові успіхи. Президент США Дональд Трамп наголошує, що операція просувається швидше, ніж планувалося, і Сполучені Штати «значно випереджають графік».
According to the latest media reports, an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has carried out an attack on NATO’s Incirlik air base in Turkey, where US nuclear bombs are stored.
По последним сообщениям СМИ, иранский беспилотный летательный аппарат (БПЛА) совершил атаку на авиабазу НАТО «Инджирлик» в Турции, где хранятся американские атомные бомбы.
Iran has declared its readiness to attack energy infrastructure in neighboring countries if the United States or its allies strike Iranian oil and gas and energy facilities. This was reported by Iranian media, citing a source in the Islamic Republic’s government.
Иран заявил о готовности атаковать энергетическую инфраструктуру в соседних странах, если Соединенные Штаты или их союзники будут наносить удары по иранским нефтегазовым и энергетическим объектам. Об этом сообщают иранские медиа со ссылкой на источник во властных структурах Исламской Республики.
US President Donald Trump said that he is counting on a quick victory over Iran and does not intend to allow the threat from Tehran to resurface in the future. According to him, this is not just a military confrontation, but a strategic goal - to achieve a final result and not allow the situation to repeat itself.
Новости «Новости мира»
According to the Israeli Emergency Medical Services (MDA), two people were killed in an Iranian ballistic missile strike in central Israel.
Amid the escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran, there are signs of attempts to restore informal diplomatic channels. According to information circulating in the media, direct contacts may have been restored between the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in recent days.
На фоне обострения конфликта между США и Ираном появляются сигналы о попытках восстановления неформальных дипломатических каналов. По информации, циркулирующей в медиа, между спецпосланником США по Ближнему Востоку Стивом Виткоффом и министром иностранных дел Ирана Аббасом Арагчи в последние дни могли возобновиться прямые контакты.
After two weeks of fighting between the US, Israel and Iran, Washington claims significant military successes. US President Donald Trump emphasizes that the operation is progressing faster than planned, and the United States is “well ahead of schedule.”