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Quick Hit:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shut down its Washington headquarters on Monday, locking staffers out of its internal systems. Elon Musk indicated that President Trump supports eliminating USAID, calling it a “criminal organization.”

Key Details:

• USAID staffers were locked out of the agency’s headquarters and computer systems overnight, with an internal email confirming the closure.
• Elon Musk, leading the government efficiency push, said Trump agrees USAID should be dismantled, calling it beyond repair.
• Former USAID officials warn the move will have global consequences, including disrupting disease outbreak responses and cutting key humanitarian efforts.

Diving Deeper:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) effectively shut down its Washington headquarters on Monday, locking employees out of the agency’s systems overnight. An internal email confirmed the closure, citing a directive from leadership, sources told Fox News Digital.

Elon Musk suggested the shutdown is part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency, an idea he claims President Donald Trump supports. During an X Spaces discussion, Musk doubled down on his criticism of USAID, calling it “a bowl of worms” that is “beyond repair.”

“There is no apple,” Musk said. “It’s beyond saving.”

Musk has been vocal in his attacks on USAID, going as far as calling it a “criminal organization” on X. He claimed the agency was run by radical-left operatives who were undermining American interests. The agency’s website was also taken offline Saturday.

The move has sparked outrage among former USAID officials and global health experts. Atul Gawande, who led the agency’s global health division under President Biden, warned that the shutdown is catastrophic for international disease control efforts.

“This is a gift to our enemies and competitors,” Gawande told Fox News Digital. “We were actively managing 21 serious outbreaks worldwide just two weeks ago. Now, three of those have escalated into crises—Ebola in Uganda, a bird flu outbreak spanning 49 countries, and another major threat.”

Gawande added that the agency’s abrupt closure is a blow to morale, claiming employees have been treated with “enormous disrespect and fear.” Reports indicate that the USAID Memorial Wall, which honored staff killed while serving overseas, has been removed. Additionally, entire departments, including malaria prevention and child immunization teams, have been gutted.

“The top three layers of experienced employees are gone,” Gawande continued. “All contract workers are being terminated. Two-thirds of our malaria staff and child immunization experts are gone. This is not reform. This is destruction.”