The Director of Security and Deputy of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were placed on administrative leave after attempting to prevent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees from accessing secure USAID systems. The DOGE team tried to access personnel files, security systems, and classified systems beyond their security level. USAID Director John Voorhees and his deputy Brian McGill refused access, leading to a confrontation where the DOGE employees threatened to call the U.S. Marshals. Elon Musk, head of DOGE, called for USAID to be dismantled, accusing them of being a criminal organization. President Trump supported Musk’s actions, criticizing USAID as run by “radical lunatics.”
Democrats expressed concern over the breach of security and access to classified information, calling the situation dangerous. There are discussions of placing USAID under the authority of the State Department, which could violate a law passed by Congress establishing the agency. USAID’s website went dark, and many employees have been fired or placed on leave following the freeze on U.S. global assistance initiated by the Trump administration.
The atmosphere at USAID headquarters is tense, with employees feeling unsafe and under surveillance. The situation remains volatile as further actions are considered, with uncertainty surrounding the future of the agency and its staff. Requests for comments from the State Department, USAID, and Musk have not been answered, leaving the situation unresolved.
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