WASHINGTON — In a controversial move that’s shaking the foundations of international aid, the Trump administration, with the help of billionaire Elon Musk, launched an unprecedented assault on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading scholars to accuse the government of breaking federal law. Within just three weeks, their actions have nearly dismantled an agency historically pivotal in humanitarian efforts worldwide.
President Donald Trump’s administration has drastically slowed down USAID by stopping many of its operations. Government and non-government personnel were given extensive access to the agency’s digital systems. This included personal information of thousands of employees, potentially breaching numerous privacy and security regulations.
The surprise modifications began shortly after Trump signed a slew of executive orders, one of which greatly diminished funding to USAID, shocking veteran staff and observers alike. According to reports from inside the administration, these moves were so sudden and sweeping that legal checks seemed to have been bypassed, sparking intense debate among legal experts.
The administration’s approach was starkly illustrated when Matt Hopson, then the agency’s chief of staff, indicated during internal meetings that the administration was prepared to push legal boundaries to achieve its goals. This statement has been interpreted as a willingness to sidestep or even contravene established federal laws.
In historical context, USAID was made an “independent establishment” by Congress in 1998, building on its original creation via an executive order by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Traditionally, the agency has enjoyed bipartisan support due to its crucial role in global humanitarian efforts and maintaining U.S. strategic interests overseas.
Peter Shane, a constitutional law professor, referred to the move as a potential constitutional crisis, describing the situation as not only scary but also tragic. The alarming pace at which these changes were implemented left many experts and officials concerned about the precedent it could set for other federal agencies.
Further complicating matters, the technology team from Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency swiftly gained control over USAID’s financial and security systems, providing them “super administrator” access that included sensitive personal information on employees.
Legal analysts were quick to point out that this might contravene the Privacy Act of 1974. John Davisson, director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, described it as a catastrophic violation of privacy and information security standards. If proven true, such actions could attract civil liabilities and fines for the administration.
The broad scope of these changes without proper oversight or immediate accountability has led to several legal challenges. Federal worker groups have already taken legal action against the administration, accusing it of unconstitutionally slashing the agency’s workforce without Congressional approval. A Trump-appointed judge recently issued an injunction that temporarily halts significant parts of these changes.
Moving forward, it’s unclear how the situation will develop, especially with many USAID officials either placed on indefinite administrative leave or locked out of their systems. The international community and numerous humanitarian groups relying on USAID’s support face uncertainty, affecting global aid operations.
The unfolding events suggest a deeper strategy by Trump and his advisers to reshape federal agencies to align more closely with their governance philosophy, potentially at the expense of long-standing legal and bureaucratic norms.
As the situation continues to develop, legal battles are expected to play a decisive role in determining the future of USAID and perhaps the structure of federal agencies more broadly. Observers and experts are watching closely, recognizing that the outcome of these disputes will likely have lasting implications for U.S. governance and its ability to execute foreign aid programs.
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