Trump and Elon Musk are upending USAID. Here's what to know about its work.
CBSN
Washington — President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have set their sights on the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, overseeing a disruption of the more than 60-year-old organization that provides humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries.
The Trump administration's targeting of USAID comes as the president has vowed to cut the size of the federal government and tasked Musk with leading the effort to do so through his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has notified Congress that he is eyeing a potential reorganization, which could include merging it with the State Department.
But critics of Mr. Trump's actions warn that the sweeping moves, which come just two weeks after he returned to office, threaten to put the nation at risk and undermine its credibility around the world. Lawmakers have also warned that any attempt to change the structure of USAID, an independent agency, would require action by Congress.
