The Trump administration has placed two top security officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave after they refused to hand over classified information to Elon Musk’s government inspection teams.
According to sources who spoke with the Associated Press, the officials—John Voorhees and his deputy Brian McGill—denied access to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team due to their lack of security clearance. They even threatened to call U.S. Marshals if the DOGE team attempted to enter. However, despite their initial resistance, members of Musk’s team managed to access classified USAID data on Saturday, including sensitive intelligence reports.
Musk’s DOGE team reportedly did not have the proper clearance, which made Voorhees and McGill believe they were legally obligated to block their entry. NBC News reported their refusal to cooperate, while a former government official confirmed that the DOGE team eventually gained access.
Reacting on social media platform X, Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” and stated, “Time for it to die.” He continued criticizing the agency in multiple posts. Meanwhile, Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official now working with DOGE, claimed that all classified material was accessed legally with the proper clearance.
This incident follows a similar operation at the Treasury Department, where DOGE reportedly accessed sensitive data, including Social Security and Medicare payment systems. The Washington Post reported that a senior Treasury official resigned over the matter.
Musk established DOGE alongside the Trump administration to streamline government operations by reducing programs, cutting regulations, and dismissing federal employees. USAID, which temporarily disappeared from the internet on Saturday, has been a primary target of Trump’s government downsizing efforts. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “USAID has been run by radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out.”
Along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Trump administration has frozen foreign aid, halting many of USAID’s humanitarian and security programs worldwide. This has resulted in massive layoffs and furloughs at the agency, significantly impacting its leadership and operations.
USAID manages billions of dollars in humanitarian aid across more than 100 countries, making it one of the most influential agencies in global assistance. Peter Marocco, a political appointee from Trump’s first term, has played a key role in enforcing these cuts. USAID staffers have also reported seeing unfamiliar individuals with visitor badges asking questions, suspecting them to be DOGE members.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren raised concerns on Sunday, warning that Trump is allowing Musk to access private government data and cut essential funding. “We must push back and protect people from harm,” she urged, though she did not provide further details.