Elon Musk Says Trump ‘Agreed’ To Shut Down USAID—And Workers Were Told To Stay Home Monday

Forbes - Feb 3rd, 2025
Open on Forbes

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed as the acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), following President Donald Trump's indication that he agrees with Elon Musk's suggestion to shut down the agency. This development comes after Musk called USAID a "criminal organization" and Trump's comments labeling its management as "radical lunatics." The move has created turmoil within the agency, with its website going offline and foreign aid being frozen, causing uncertainty among staff and global concern over the potential humanitarian impact.

USAID, established in 1961, plays a crucial role in U.S. international humanitarian efforts, managing over $40 billion in appropriations and assisting approximately 130 countries. The agency's operations are historically aligned with American foreign policy but have faced criticism from the current administration for allegedly operating independently. The potential shutdown of USAID, combined with the recent security breach involving Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, has raised alarms among global aid organizations about the possible catastrophic effects on international aid and development initiatives.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and engaging account of the potential changes to USAID, involving high-profile figures like Elon Musk and President Trump. While it effectively captures public interest and highlights key issues, the story could benefit from greater accuracy and balance. The reliance on statements from a limited range of sources without adequate verification or diverse perspectives limits the article's overall credibility. Enhancing transparency and including more voices would improve the story's quality and provide readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. Despite these shortcomings, the article succeeds in presenting a controversial topic that is relevant to current debates on U.S. foreign policy and international aid.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that appear to be generally accurate, but some require further verification. For instance, the claim that Elon Musk stated President Trump agreed with him on shutting down USAID is supported by various sources, confirming its accuracy. However, the assertion regarding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operatives accessing classified information without proper clearance needs more concrete evidence or official statements to confirm its validity. The description of USAID's role aligns with established facts about the organization, enhancing the story's accuracy. Nonetheless, the story could improve by providing more detailed evidence or sourcing for some of the more contentious claims, such as Musk's allegations against USAID.

6
Balance

The story primarily focuses on the perspectives of key political figures like Elon Musk and President Trump, which may skew the narrative towards their viewpoints. While it includes a quote from Marco Rubio, there is a noticeable absence of counterpoints or perspectives from USAID officials or independent experts. This lack of diverse viewpoints could lead to an imbalanced representation of the situation, potentially influencing reader perception. The story could benefit from including voices from humanitarian groups or foreign policy analysts to provide a more comprehensive view of the potential impacts of the discussed changes to USAID.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of the events and key players involved. The language is straightforward, and the structure allows readers to follow the narrative without confusion. However, the story could improve by providing more context around certain claims, particularly those involving complex governmental processes or legal implications. This additional context would aid in reader comprehension and provide a more nuanced understanding of the situation.

6
Source quality

The article references statements from prominent figures like Elon Musk and President Trump, which are credible but require further corroboration from independent sources. The reliance on these figures without additional verification or input from neutral parties may affect the reliability of the information presented. The story would be strengthened by incorporating evidence from authoritative sources such as government documents, expert analyses, or official statements from USAID to provide a more balanced and comprehensive account.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of the sources of its information and the basis for some of its claims. While it quotes public figures, it does not provide clear attribution for some of the more controversial statements, such as Musk's allegations against USAID. The story would benefit from a clearer explanation of where the information originates and the context in which statements were made. Additionally, disclosing any potential conflicts of interest or biases of the sources could enhance the article's transparency and credibility.

Sources

  1. https://people.com/elon-musk-doge-target-usaid-8784849
  2. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/03/rubio-acting-head-usaid-00202122
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNaeUII-CDE
  4. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/turmoil-inside-usaid-doge-reps-offices-senior-officials/story?id=118368900
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7X2HEBL5G8