On Monday, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) locked down the agency’s headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C. as it moves to shut the agency.
USAID workers were told to stay home and the lockdown heightened the chaos that has surrounded the agency following it being targeted for closure by Elon Musk, who has said that President Donald Trump has agreed to the department’s closure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that his department has taken over USAID. Democrats have been protesting the potential changes, which MAGA have quickly taken to mocking online.
Newsweek has reached out to USAID and representatives for Musk and Rubio via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The State Department recently announced a freeze on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance programs. This is in line with an aid-freezing executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, who said he wanted to ensure aid aligned with his “America First” policy.
Protestors gather outside of USAID headquarters on February 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Protestors gather outside of USAID headquarters on February 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
This comes amid major changes implemented by Trump’s administration, which include firing career agency employees, freezing trillions in grand funds and halting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which could result in major layoffs.
The freeze has halted humanitarian aid programs around the world. USAID programs cover billions of dollars of aid worldwide, and USAID is the largest provider of food assistance in the world.
What To Know
On Monday, a group of House and Senate Democrats attempted to access the headquarters of the USAID, and they were denied entry, in what signals the first physical standoff between congressional Democrats and the new Trump administration, though it is unlikely to be the last.
Democratic lawmakers protested and spoke to protesters outside of the USAID headquarters. The group was protesting the reported move from Trump to shut down USAID. Elon Musk, who is working to downsize the federal government as part of the DOGE initiative, has targeted USAID for closure.
MAGA were quick to respond and mocked the protests online.
Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and right-wing commentator, posted on X: “Watch panicked Democrats surround the USAID headquarters in DC in a desperate attempt to stop Elon Musk’s ongoing discovery of their mass theft of public funds.”
Charles Downs, a reporter for Loomered, wrote on X: “Congressional Dems made fools of themselves today at the USAID protest.”
Filmmaker Robby Starbuck wrote: “Democrats in Congress, NGO’s they funded via USAID, USAID employees and the media are currently protesting outside of the USAID office that President Trump shut down. Look at the anti-DOGE sign. They’re literally protesting against an efficient government and an end to fraud.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that his department has now taken over the department.
What People Are Saying
Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “I’m the acting director of USAID. I’ve delegated that authority to someone but I stay in touch with him. And again, our goal was to go in and align our foreign aid to the national interest.”
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin: “We don’t have a fourth branch of government called Elon Musk.”
CNN political commentator Van Jones: “People are going to die in very large numbers around the world who are expecting the United States to live up to our promises to get them medicine, to get them help… Donald Trump says we don’t care. You go die.”
What Happens Next
In a statement, the State Department said that it had informed Congress of a review of USAID’s foreign assistance activities, with “an eye towards potential reorganization.”
The future of the department remains to be seen, and clashes between Democrats and Republicans under the new administration are likely to continue.
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