Musk criticizes USAID’s focus on diversity programs while US faces economic struggles

Elon Musk, head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has criticized the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for its funding of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives abroad, while he claims the country’s economy has suffered as a result.

In a post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote, "USAID was funding DEI abroad while America goes broke at home …,” Caliber.Az reports.

USAID was funding DEI abroad while America goes broke at home … https://t.co/E4nigHc7IY

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025

Musk's statement follows recent reports about USAID's expenditures, including $1.5 million allocated to expand racial diversity, equality, and inclusion efforts in Serbia. The agency also funded $2 million for sex reassignment surgery and LGBT activism in Guatemala, as well as $47,000 for a "transgender opera" production in Colombia.

Additionally, USAID provided $32,000 for comics in Peru about individuals who have undergone gender transition.

These revelations, reported by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on February 4, have sparked controversy, with critics arguing that these international expenditures may be diverting resources from addressing pressing domestic economic challenges.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio notified Congress on February 3 about the "potential reorganization" of the USAID.

President Donald Trump, earlier, appointed Rubio as the acting director of USAID.

A group of Democrats were blocked from entering USAID’s headquarters as they protested efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle it.

On February 8, USAID’s website went offline, and its official X and Instagram accounts were taken down.

The recent actions against USAID come after Trump issued an executive order last month halting all foreign aid for 90 days.

By Vafa Guliyeva