Inside Elon Musk's War on Washington
Briefly

In early February 2025, a minor standoff occurred at USAID involving a team associated with Elon Musk, who demanded unprecedented access to the agency's headquarters. This confrontation underscored the broader tensions during the Trump Administration, where Musk's group, dubbed DOGE, challenged the authority and operations of established federal institutions. With no formal charter, DOGE signified a shift in power dynamics, promoting budget cuts and diminishing the role of independent agencies. Musk's characterization of USAID as a 'criminal organization' via social media pointed to a confrontational stance aiming at dismantling traditional bureaucratic structures.
In an early February standoff, Musk's team confronted USAID, demanding access to its headquarters, a move exposing the ongoing reshaping of the U.S. government.
Musk's group, operating under DOGE, lacked clear legal authority, yet sought to dismantle federal bureaucracy, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.
The situation exemplified the tension between established federal agencies and a political faction aligned with Musk, challenging norms in American governance.
Musk's tweet branding USAID a 'criminal organization' encapsulated the adversarial approach his team adopted towards longstanding federal institutions.
Read at time.com
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