Quotes
As we dug into USAID, it became apparent that what we have here is not an apple with a worm it in but that we have actually just a ball of worms. USAID is a ball of worms, there is no apple. And when there is no apple...you've just got to basically get rid of the whole thing. That is why it's got to go. It's beyond repair."
Billionaire and DOGE co-head Elon Musk said during an X Spaces stream early Monday Dissolving USAID is not going to make America safer or stronger. Quite the contrary. For less than 1 percent of our GDP, the 50-year-old agency helps people around the world, over a billion people, with health care, education, agriculture, small businesses and other things. Making enemies out of over 100 countries and laying off 10,000 hard-working Americans isn't gonna help."
Another supporter, identified only as Kate, said I work in international development and many of my colleagues in the US have now lost their jobs. The ripple effects of this for the American people and the global community are unimaginable. We as a country have always been a leader globally in humanitarian work and that great history will end."
Another supporter, Ashley, wrote I'm the sole income earner and I'm the mom of four young kids,
Trump and Musk are recklessly and illegally dismantling USAID, an essential national security agency that saves lives, advances U.S. interests, and promotes peace. Their malicious actions are putting the health of people, especially children, at grave risk, and will surely lead to future public health and migration crises in the U.S.—let alone suffering around the globe."
Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, wrote on X When Elon Musk and Dmitry Medvedev unite, the impossible becomes possible. Is the U.S. trying to commit suicide?"
Ukrainian economist Tymofiy Mylovanov wrote on social media Smart move by Elon Musk, trying to plug USAID's deep throat. Let's hope the deep state doesn't swallow him whole..."
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and one of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, praised the move, writing on social media We’re shutting it down, ... Spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.”
Musk said during an X Spaces, ... He added Trump’s actions are weakening American global leadership and influence.”
Kim told Bloomberg on Monday, February 3 Our assistance abroad helps fight disease and stop starvation and famine, but it’s also a tool to stave off the expansionist reach of authoritarian leaders in China, Russia, and Iran.”
It's not only a gift to our adversaries... it is plain illegal,
said Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland Elon Musk makes billions of dollars based off of his business with China, and China is cheering at this action today,
claimed Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut They're going to be part of American foreign policy, but it has to be aligned with American foreign policy,
he told reporters in El Salvador There is a great deal of harm being done, and this change to take away the independent status [of USAID] is just a nail in the coffin after a purge of personnel that has decimated the agency,
Because, I mean, there's so many things related to the work we do,
We had some meetings over the weekend, and there was just a lot of uncertainty,
Reap said in an interview with CBS News We're talking about world-class expertise. For example, the malaria program. Two-thirds have been fired, and the activity shutdown includes one of the global experts in malaria for us. How does that make us safer? How does that make us stronger?"
You're talking about 20 million people in the global HIV program that has reduced HIV around the world, they are going without medication that keeps them alive,
Every administration goes through an overhaul that says they want to change policy, they want to change some direction, but you don't decimate and demolish the institution in the process. There was no need to close down all of its functions, which is harming people."
What we're talking about are disaster relief workers, we're talking about health workers and people who are doing good and protecting America around the world."
