Government Efficiency Department (Doge), which runs a technological billionaire Elon musktargeting the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and, according to higher congress sources, moved to take control of the independent agency over the weekend.
Older Congress sources told FOX News that more than 50 older members of USAIDs had been put on administrative leave and subjected to GAG commands, which means that they were not allowed to communicate with anyone outside the agency without approval.
The signs were also removed from the USAID headquarters Ronald Reagan building in Washington, DC, and Tim Doge took over computer systems, sources said. USAID is responsible for the distribution of civilian assistance in foreign assistance and development of countries around the world. The agency operated approximately $ 40 billion last year, According to the Congress Research Service.
On Sunday, the Associated Press reported that Trump’s administration has put two main security chiefs on a USAID on leave after refusing to divert classified materials in limited areas in Doge.
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The US Agency for International Development Flag flies in front of the Washington Agency building.
After initiating an approach to Classified Information of USAIDs, Doge eventually gained that approach on Saturday, allowing them to see things like intelligence reports, an current and former US official told AP.
Doga team members lacked enough high security approval to access information, so two USAIDs security officers – John Voorhees and Deputy Brian McGill – believed they were legal obliged to deny access.
On Sunday, Musk aimed at USAID on his social media platform X, writing: “USAID is a criminal organization. It’s time to die.”
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He also wrote several other posts about the agency, saying things like: “The USAID was Viper’s nest radically left -handed Marxists who hate America” and “USAID is evil.”
The latter was a response to a post that suggested that USAID helped the Coronavirus research in Wuhan in China, related to the interaction published on Forbes between Senator Randa Paul, R-Ky., And now former USAID Administrator Samantha Power in April 2023 .
ABC News reported that those who were familiar with USAID were questioned whether the moves to the USAID were done in an effort to move the agency to the State Department, where there could be better responsibility.
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Elon Musk Jumps joined former President Donald Trump during a set of campaigns in Butler, Pa. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images/File)
Last week, at least 56 USAID officials were appointed administrative leave with full salaries and fees, and several hundred performers based in Washington and elsewhere were discharged.
The actions came after State Secretary Marco Rubio, acting toward Trump’s executive order, paused American foreign aid funded by a state department or USAID.
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The 90-day break has stopped thousands of humanitarian, development and security programs financed by the US and forced help organizations to release hundreds of employees because they cannot make a salary.
Chris Pandolfo and Associated Press Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
