Chaos Erupts as Elon Musk’s Team Takes Over USAID Offices

In a stunning turn of events, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has become the center of a full-blown power struggle. ABC News reported that staffers from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have stormed USAID offices, locking out senior employees, placing staff on administrative leave, and seizing control of key systems. To top it all off, USAID’s newly appointed chief of staff has already resigned as Elon Musk, who is spearheading the agency’s takeover, continues his aggressive push to reshape USAID, which handles foreign aid and disaster relief programs.

On Friday night, things took an even more bizarre turn when a group claiming to be from the State Department and DOGE arrived at USAID’s headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building. Sources said they demanded full access to the offices. When security initially refused to let them in, they threatened to call the U.S. Marshals Service. Eventually, the guards stood down, and the group gained entry.

“It looked like people who dressed up for their first job interview,” one source described the scene.

By Saturday, tensions escalated further as two top security officials at USAID were put on administrative leave after refusing to cooperate. More employees found themselves locked out of internal systems, while DOGE operatives continued asserting control over the agency.

Amid the chaos, USAID Chief of Staff Matt Hopson abruptly resigned just days after being appointed by former President Trump. While it’s unclear whether Hopson quit in protest or for other reasons, his departure has only added to the uncertainty surrounding USAID’s future.

Meanwhile, Musk has been personally joining USAID staff calls throughout the week and has been outspoken about his disdain for the agency. He took to his social media platform, X, to launch a scathing attack, declaring: “USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die.”

His words have sent shockwaves through the agency, with one senior USAID official telling ABC News, “The warp-speed of this mafia-like takeover has shaken USAID staff to the core.” The official also called on Republican senators like Lindsey Graham to step up and defend the agency’s mission.

Inside the USAID offices, things are looking bleak. Posters and flags featuring the agency’s branding have been taken down, and employees placed on administrative leave have had their ID badges and work computers confiscated. Sources say DOGE has gained access to USAID’s internal systems, including the Development Evaluation Clearinghouse and the Development Information Solution, both of which are crucial for tracking aid programs and performance data.

One of the most alarming developments is DOGE’s reported seizure of USAID’s financial management system, Phoenix. This system tracks the agency’s budget and financial transactions, and its sudden shutdown over the weekend has left contractors in a state of panic. Many worry they won’t get paid for their work, especially those involved in critical global supply chains for HIV/AIDS medications and other life-saving initiatives.

Adding to the intrigue, sources claim that Peter Marocco, a Trump ally in the Office of Foreign Assistance who was reportedly seen inside the Capitol on January 6, is overseeing the administration’s foreign aid cuts. Additionally, Mark Kevin Lloyd, a Tea Party activist, and Trump’s former Virginia field director has been appointed as acting assistant administrator for USAID’s Bureau of Conflict Prevention and Stabilization, a department that controls a significant portion of the agency’s budget.

With all of this upheaval, experts are questioning whether this shake-up signals the complete dismantling of USAID or a strategic consolidation of resources under the State Department. Some speculate that the administration may use USAID’s vast infrastructure to rapidly redirect aid programs in ways that the State Department alone wouldn’t be able to handle.

Meanwhile, the USAID website has mysteriously gone dark. An internal email obtained by ABC News states, “USAID.gov is currently unavailable,” with no timeline for restoration. Staffers are interpreting this as a deliberate move to “turn out the (internet) lights.”

With so many unanswered questions and high-stakes moves being made, one thing is clear: USAID is no longer business as usual. The agency’s future hangs in the balance, and all eyes are on Musk, Trump allies, and the Republican-led government to see what happens next.