USAID Cuts by Musk, Trump Threaten Millions of Lives Globally

Elon Musk’s tenure as the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President Donald Trump to streamline the federal government, has ended in a highly public and acrimonious breakup, with Musk criticizing Trump’s budget and sparking a political firestorm. DOGE’s efforts under Musk included aggressive cuts and restructuring but led to widespread inefficiency and alienation within the federal government. A key casualty of their collaboration was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which was dismantled amid false accusations from both Musk and Trump, despite USAID’s critical role in global health and humanitarian aid. The fallout from their split is expected to damage both men’s reputations, but analysts suggest Musk and his business empire will suffer the most, reflecting a broader pattern seen in autocratic regimes where political leaders hold greater power than corporate figures. Musk’s confrontational style, including public insults and social media battles, further complicated his role and strained relationships within government and the public. Overall, the Musk-Trump partnership and its collapse highlight the dangers of mixing billionaire business interests with political power, often to the detriment of effective governance and global aid efforts.