The director of security and his deputy at the U.S. Agency for International Development were placed on administrative leave after they blocked employees from the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing secure USAID systems. The DOGE team tried to access personnel files, security systems, and security clearance information, causing a confrontation that led to threats being made. Elon Musk, head of DOGE, called for USAID to be shut down, while President Trump criticized the agency as being run by “radical lunatics.” Democrats raised concerns about the security implications of the attempted access to classified information and personal data of American citizens. The Trump administration is considering placing USAID under the authority of the State Department, which could violate a law passed by Congress. Over 1,000 USAID employees and contractors have already been fired or furloughed due to a freeze on global assistance by the Trump administration. The atmosphere at USAID headquarters is described as tense and unsafe, with concerns about surveillance by DOGE. The website for USAID went offline, and staff in communication roles were blocked from accessing internal systems. The situation has caused fear and uncertainty among USAID employees. Multiple NBC News reporters and correspondents have been covering the story.
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