USAID shutdown could cripple US global power, warns Senator Kim

The United States will lose global influence and leadership due to the closure of the Agency for International Development (USAID), said New Jersey Senator Andy Kim.

“Trump’s actions are weakening American global leadership and influence,” New Jersey Senator Andy Kim stated, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“Our assistance abroad helps fight disease and stop starvation and famine, but it’s also a tool to stave off the expansionist reach of authoritarian leaders in China, Russia, and Iran.”

An unnamed Chinese official told Bloomberg that Washington's decision will lead to the loss of potential partners and will harm the United States itself. Moreover, it is estimated that the closure of USAID will have far-reaching geopolitical consequences, including an increase in the flow of migrants to the United States.

To recap, Elon Musk revealed in an X Spaces conversation early on February 3, that President Donald Trump is in agreement with the idea of shutting down the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The comments come after a period of speculation surrounding the future of the agency, which has been hit by a funding freeze and the suspension of dozens of its employees.

“In regard to the USAID stuff, I went over it with (the president) in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down,” Musk stated. He further mentioned that he had checked with Trump “a few times,” confirming that the president wants to dismantle the agency, which is responsible for distributing billions in humanitarian aid and development funding annually. CNN has reached out to both the White House and USAID for comment.

On February 2 evening, before Musk's comments, Trump responded to reporters' questions about USAID by saying: “It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision” on its future.

Musk's remarks come in the wake of significant tension at USAID. Two top security officials at the agency were placed on administrative leave on February 1 night after refusing to provide members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with access to critical systems, even after being threatened with law enforcement involvement, multiple sources familiar with the situation told CNN.

In addition, around 60 senior USAID staff members were suspended last week over allegations that they attempted to circumvent an executive order from Trump freezing foreign aid for 90 days. Another senior official was also placed on leave for trying to reverse the order after finding no evidence of misconduct.

By Aghakazim Guliyev