Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has recently voiced his criticism of President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), which is led by Elon Musk, following the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters to agency personnel. This closure occurred on Monday as D.O.G.E. sought to exert control over the organization.
Schumer raised alarms about the potential implications of the Trump administration’s actions, suggesting that if USAID were to be effectively dismantled, other agencies such as the IRS, the U.S. Postal Service, or the Social Security Administration could also become targets. He stated on the Senate floor, “Before our very eyes, an unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government.”
In his remarks regarding D.O.G.E.’s actions, Schumer described the situation as an “illegal seizure” of USAID, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the identity and authority of the D.O.G.E. staffers involved. He remarked, “We don’t know who these D.O.G.E. staffers are. We don’t know if they have security clearances. We don’t know what legal authority they have to access USAID facilities, if any.”
The New York Democrat expressed dismay at the state of USAID, stating that it has been “completely ripped apart.” He noted, “Its offices are closed. Its contracts have been broken. Funding for its programs, which protect American interests globally, has been halted.” Schumer asserted that there is “virtually nothing left of USAID.”
According to Schumer, the elimination of USAID would pose a significant risk to America’s national security and humanitarian initiatives. He remarked, “We know shutting down USAID puts American security in danger. USA programs preserve America’s influence in Africa, Asia, and other regions worldwide. Our humanitarian efforts are critical for combating Ebola, which is currently spreading in Uganda. It is essential for countering terrorist activities, and at a time of soaring egg prices, halting USA programs that combat the global spread of bird flu is utterly nonsensical.”
Elon Musk has asserted that USAID is an irreparable organization that should be dismantled. He characterized USAID as a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who despise America,” and labeled it a “criminal organization,” emphasizing that it is time for its termination. In a response to Schumer, Musk remarked, “Hysterical reactions like this indicate that @DOGE is engaged in work of significant importance.”
Musk further elaborated on the necessity of reducing the influence of USAID, stating, “This represents the singular opportunity for the American populace to overcome bureaucracy, the dominance of bureaucrats, and to reinstate democracy, the governance by the people. We may never encounter another opportunity like this. It is now or never. Your support is vital for the success of the people’s revolution.”
