**USAID Faces Shutdown**
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), said on February 3 that he discussed closing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with President Donald Trump.
Musk claimed that Trump agreed to shut down USAID. However, the agency’s website has been offline since February 2, signaling its potential dissolution.
**What Does USAID Do?**
USAID funds initiatives in various areas, including women’s health, clean water access, HIV/AIDS treatment, energy security, and anti-corruption programs. The agency has provided significant funding to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion, with $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and over $30 billion in direct budget support.
**Trump and Musk’s Comments**
In a conversation on X Spaces, Musk said that he went over USAID with Trump in detail and that the President agreed to shut it down. Separately, Trump referred to USAID as being run by “radical lunatics” who need to be removed before making a final decision.
**USAID’s Website Offline**
Since February 2, USAID’s website has been offline. Earlier reports suggested that the Trump administration aims to move the Congress-funded independent agency under the State Department.
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