Musk announced USAID was going into the wood chipper as its headquarters closed
Reporting and findings
- reported
Musk publicly said he and Trump were shutting USAID and later described placing it in a wood chipper as headquarters access, websites, and employee systems were disabled; Rubio became acting administrator.
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland: Does v. Musk: Memorandum Opinion and Preliminary InjunctionPassages and source records documenting: Musk announced USAID was going into the wood chipper as its headquarters closed
- ProPublica: Internal Memos: Senior USAID Leaders Warned Trump Appointees of Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths From Closing AgencyPassages and source records documenting: Musk announced USAID was going into the wood chipper as its headquarters closed
- documented
Elon Musk was the Trump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE work.
- The White House: President Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon MuskAppointment or biography record identifying Elon Musk as Trump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE work
- documented
Marco Rubio was the Trump-appointed secretary of state and acting USAID administrator.
- U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian: Marco RubioAppointment or biography record identifying Marco Rubio as Trump-appointed secretary of state and acting USAID administrator
Summary and current status
A presidential adviser publicly claimed operational credit while employees and contractors lost systems and workspace.
Headquarters access and agency systems were shut before statutory reorganization
People and organizations
- Marco RubioTrump-appointed secretary of state and acting USAID administrator
- Elon MuskTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE work
- U.S. Agency for International Developmentcongressionally established aid agency targeted for closure
- Donald J. Trumppresident authorizing the administration action
Relationships in this file
- Elon Muskdirected or ratified the agency shutdownU.S. Agency for International Development
- Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk
- Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed secretary of state and acting USAID administratorMarco Rubio