A fiery group of a couple of dozen congressional Democrats blasted Elon Musk and President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon exterior of USAID’s headquarters amid their makes an attempt to close down the abroad funding company, claiming the quickly unfolding occasions are inflicting chaos and harming nationwide safety.
The Democrats known as the actions towards USAID “unlawful” and a “constitutional disaster” whereas vowing to take their protection of the company to the courts.
“What Trump and Musk have carried out will not be solely unsuitable, it is unlawful,” stated Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia throughout a information convention exterior USAID headquarters. “USAID was established by an act of Congress, and it might solely be disbanded by an act of Congress. Stopping this can require motion by the courts and for Republicans to point out up and present braveness and arise for our nation.”
Beyer was joined by fellow Reps. Gerry Connolly, Eugene Vindman and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia; Jamie Raskin, Johnny Olszewski and Sarah Elfreth of Maryland; and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona.
Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks exterior the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement constructing in Washington, Feb. 3, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Chris Murphy of Connecticut additionally spoke.
Schatz, who sits on the International Relations Committee, stated earlier Monday that he’s inserting a “blanket maintain” Trump’s nominees for the State Division amid the USAID developments. Van Hollen stated he’d decide to doing the identical.
“Senator Schatz and I’ve talked, we’re all on this collectively,” he stated.
The group of Democrats had been flanked on Monday by about 100 federal employees and different advocates for U.S. companies, together with quite a few USAID staff and contractors.
The Democratic lawmakers argued on Monday that USAID’s work is essential for counterterrorism, illness prevention and offering humanitarian assist globally.
“We’re right here immediately, not solely to battle for federal staff who dedicate themselves every single day to a humanitarian process. We’re right here to avoid wasting lives, as a result of that’s what USAID does,” stated Connolly, the rating Democrat on the Oversight Committee. “You title it, USAID is there within the battle towards HIV, within the battle to guard the Uyghur inhabitants in China, within the battle to guard refugees, within the battle to be sure that there’s meals safety in all places … It’s the lead growth company on the earth, and nobody elected Elon Musk to dismantle it.”
“We’re going to battle in each means we will within the courts, in public opinion, with the bully pulpit, within the halls of Congress, and right here at USAID itself. We’re not going to let this injustice occur,” Connolly added.
Additionally they condemned Musk’s actions as unlawful and detrimental to the nation’s pursuits.
“Elon Musk, you did not create USAID. The USA Congress did for the American folks … like Elon Musk didn’t create USAID, he does not have the facility to destroy it. And who’s going to cease him? We’re,” Raskin stated.
“This can be a constitutional disaster that we’re in immediately,” he added.
McGovern additionally criticized Musk.
“This can be a brazen try by a billionaire who no person voted for, to illegally and unconstitutionally steal from taxpayers so he can provide himself a tax break,” McGovern stated.
Van Hollen highlighted the broader implications of those actions towards USAID for U.S. international coverage and nationwide safety.
“Make no mistake, this effort by Elon Musk and so-called DOGE to close down the Company for Worldwide Improvement is an absolute present to our adversaries, to Russia, to China, to Iran and others, as a result of USAID is a necessary instrument of U.S. international coverage and U.S. nationwide safety coverage. So this has nothing to do with making the U.S. authorities extra environment friendly, and every little thing to do with aiding and abetting our adversaries world wide,” Van Hollen stated.
Subramanyam, the chair of the Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on Navy and International Affairs stated he would “name for hearings, and we’ll ask for solutions” pertaining to the USAID developments.
“We are going to demand solutions on why that is taking place, however most significantly, we won’t let it occur,” he stated.
Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Florida, a senior member of the Home Appropriations Committee who oversees international help, advised ABC Information, “The president gained the election. He has the fitting to assessment applications, however not like this,”
“We’re so significantly better off when the remainder of the world is wholesome and educated and has financial alternative,” she stated.
The disruptions are “a gap for China” she added. “China goes to be in each nook and cranny that we get out of.”
