USAID Headquarters Closed As Elon Musk Moves to Shut Down Agency

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Bernama-UPI) -- Federal employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were working from home Monday after being instructed not to report for duty at the department's main office in downtown Washington because it was closed, the United Press International (UPI) reported.

"At the direction of Agency leadership, the USAID headquarters at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington, DC will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb 3, 2025," workers were told in an email sent just after midnight, a copy of which CNN said it had obtained.

"Agency personnel normally assigned to work at USAID headquarters will work remotely tomorrow (Monday), with the exception of personnel with essential on-site and building maintenance functions individually contacted by senior leadership," said the email.

Attempts by UPI to access the agency's website and social media accounts were unsuccessful, with all apparently offline as of 8 am local time (EST).

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur in charge of United States (US) President Donald Trump's unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), followed up early Monday by saying the department was in the process of being restructured.

The closure of USAID headquarters follows recent administrative changes within the agency, including the temporary reassignment of two senior security officials. 

Musk said in a conversation on his X Spaces forum that Trump supported a reassessment of USAID’s role, after previously expressing concerns about its operational structure. He noted that efforts were underway to evaluate the agency’s effectiveness and alignment with national priorities.

USAID, an independent agency backed by Congress, has played a longstanding role in global humanitarian efforts, including poverty alleviation, disaster relief and the promotion of democratic institutions.

-- BERNAMA-UPI