Elon Musk stated in a social media discussion that Donald Trump supports shutting down the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), the world’s largest single donor. Musk described the agency as “beyond repair,” and the conversation included prominent Republicans such as Vivek Ramaswamy and Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee.

Elon Musk, who is leading Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize the federal government, stated on social media Monday morning that they are working toward dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAid). In a conversation on X, which included former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, Musk revealed their plans, asserting that USAid is “beyond repair” and confirming that Trump supports its closure.

The conversation sparked further attention after Reuters reported that, over the weekend, the Trump administration had removed two senior security officials at USAid. These officials had attempted to prevent representatives from Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” or Doge, from gaining access to restricted areas of the building.

USAid, recognized as the world’s largest single donor, allocated $72 billion in assistance globally in fiscal year 2023. The agency’s initiatives span across various sectors, including women’s health in conflict zones, HIV/AIDS treatments, clean water access, energy security, and anti-corruption efforts. In 2024, it accounted for 42% of the humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations. Despite these efforts, USAid’s website was reportedly offline on Saturday and remained inaccessible to some users on Sunday. The agency has a staff of over 10,000 employees.

Trump has ordered a global freeze on most U.S. foreign aid as part of his “America First” policy, which is reverberating worldwide. This freeze puts at risk critical programs such as field hospitals in Thai refugee camps, landmine clearance in conflict zones, and the provision of essential medicines for diseases like HIV/AIDS.

In a broader discussion about reducing U.S. spending and addressing fraud, Musk estimated that the Trump administration could cut $1 trillion from the U.S. deficit next year. However, Musk did not provide evidence for his claims of fraud or explain how he arrived at the $1 trillion figure. He specifically mentioned that “professional foreign fraud rings” are stealing vast sums of money by impersonating or creating fake U.S. digital citizens.

The conversation is also raising concerns about Musk’s access to the Treasury system, which is responsible for disbursing more than $6 trillion annually in payments on behalf of federal agencies. This system also holds sensitive personal information of millions of Americans, including those receiving Social Security payments, tax refunds, and other government benefits.

Democratic Senator Peter Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has called for an explanation of why Musk was granted access to this payment system and to taxpayer data. He described it as a “gross abuse of power by an unelected bureaucrat” and suggested that the situation reflects how money can influence power in the Trump White House.

Musk continues to have Trump’s support. When asked on Sunday about Musk’s role, Trump expressed approval, calling him a “big cost-cutter” who is effective in reducing federal expenditures. Trump acknowledged that while they may not always agree on every decision, he considers Musk to be “very smart” and appreciates his efforts to trim the federal budget.