DOGE exposes USAID's $60 billion boondoggle: Trump and Musk take axe to bloated bureaucracy
By willowt // 2025-03-04
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  • DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has revealed USAID as a hub of waste, corruption and mismanagement, with a $60 billion global spending spree that has largely benefited Democrat-aligned contractors and foreign entities rather than advancing American interests.
  • The dismantling of USAID, a congressionally authorized agency with 10,000 employees, is nearing completion. Over 90% of its global contracts have been terminated, and employees at its Washington, D.C., headquarters were given just 15 minutes to vacate under federal supervision.
  • President Donald Trump's near-complete freeze on foreign aid and reduction of USAID's workforce to 290 employees, executed by Elon Musk, is seen as a necessary step to curb government excess and increase accountability, despite resistance from Democrats and federal workers.
  • The USAID scandal has exposed hypocrisy within the left, with accusations of projection and corruption. The dismantling is part of a broader effort to restore accountability and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, reflecting the Trump administration's commitment to reforming federal agencies.
In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through Washington, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk, has exposed what many conservatives have long suspected: the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a cesspool of waste, corruption and mismanagement. With the Trump administration’s aggressive push to dismantle the agency, the curtain has been pulled back on a $60 billion global spending spree that has done little to advance American interests—and much to line the pockets of Democrat-aligned contractors and foreign entities. The dismantling of USAID, a congressionally authorized agency with a workforce of 10,000, is now in its final stages. Mass mailings have terminated over 90% of its humanitarian and development contracts worldwide, while employees at its Washington, D.C., headquarters were given just 15 minutes to clear their desks under the watchful eyes of federal officers. For many, the scene was heart-wrenching: long-time employees, some in tears, carted away personal belongings as supporters outside waved signs and shouted encouragement. But for fiscal conservatives, it was a long-overdue reckoning.

A legacy of waste and mismanagement

USAID, established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy, was intended to promote American values and interests abroad through humanitarian aid and development programs. But over the decades, it has morphed into a bloated bureaucracy that critics argue has strayed far from its original mission. According to DOGE’s findings, USAID has become a vehicle for funneling taxpayer dollars to projects that align more with progressive agendas than with American interests. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) minced no words in his assessment: "USAID is a corrupt governmental organization run by unelected bureaucrats created to shovel taxpayer dollars to Democrats' pet projects overseas." He pointed to the agency’s 37 trillion national debt and 1.8 trillion annual deficit as evidence that the U.S. can no longer afford to fund programs that often benefit countries hostile to American values. The numbers are staggering. Under the Biden administration, USAID allocated 1.5 million to promote "diversity, equity and inclusion" in Serbia’s workplaces and 2 million for sex changes and LGBT activism in Guatemala. Another $6 million was spent on tourism in Egypt, while hundreds of thousands of meals were sent to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria. These revelations have fueled outrage among conservatives, who argue that USAID has become a slush fund for progressive causes rather than a tool for advancing American interests.

Trump and Musk: A dynamic duo for fiscal responsibility

President Trump’s decision to impose a near-complete freeze on foreign aid and slash USAID’s workforce to just 290 employees has been met with fierce resistance from Democrats and federal workers. But for fiscal conservatives, it’s a necessary step toward reining in government excess. Elon Musk, tasked with executing Trump’s cost-cutting agenda through DOGE, has been equally unapologetic. "The corrupt politicians ‘protesting’ outside the USAID building are the ones getting money from USAID," Musk tweeted. "That’s why they’re there—they want your stolen tax dollars!" Musk’s request for job justification—a reasonable demand in any private-sector organization—has exposed the inefficiencies and redundancies within USAID. For too long, federal agencies have operated with little accountability, shielded by the bureaucratic inertia of Washington. But as Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) noted, "There's a lot of the spending that goes on through USAID that does not appear to be consistent with U.S. policy." The time for a reckoning is long overdue.

The Left’s hypocrisy exposed

Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech investor and founder of Founders Fund, has argued that the left’s response to the USAID scandal reveals a fundamental truth: the left routinely employs projection to avoid scrutiny and smear its right-wing opponents. "So much of what has emerged from USAID, as well as the actions of the central left establishment, is doing the exact opposite of what they accused the other side of doing," Thiel told Dave Rubin during a recent interview. Thiel’s comments underscore the broader ideological battle at play. While the left accuses Trump and Musk of authoritarianism, it is the left’s own institutions that have been exposed as corrupt and wasteful. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), chair of the House’s Government Efficiency Subcommittee, has even suggested that USAID funding may have made its way back to Democrat campaigns. "Maybe we should consider investigating whether USAID funding has affected elections," Greene said during a recent hearing. "The real questions the American people deserve to know answers to, are these."

A necessary reckoning

The dismantling of USAID is not just about cutting costs; it’s about restoring accountability and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. For too long, federal agencies have operated with impunity, shielded by the bureaucratic inertia of Washington. But as the national debt balloons and the deficit grows, the American people can no longer afford to fund programs that do little to advance their interests. The Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government are not without controversy. Federal workers, many of whom have dedicated their careers to public service, will naturally resist being labeled as part of the problem. But as Musk’s request for job justification makes clear, the days of unchecked spending and unaccountable bureaucrats are over. The left will continue to cry foul, accusing Trump and Musk of dismantling institutions that promote democracy and humanitarianism abroad. But as the DOGE report makes clear, USAID has become a symbol of everything that is wrong with Washington: bloated, corrupt and out of touch with the American people. The time for reform is now—and the Trump administration is leading the charge. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com APNews.com Yahoo.com Politico.com CounterPunch.org
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