The Lead Untangles: USAID, where the funding was going and what comes next

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have acted quickly - and it's not clear if they have done so legally - over what they deem to be a waste of taxpayer money

At a glance facts

The future of the United States government’s main overseas aid agency USAID is in doubt after Elon Musk, acting with consent from Donald Trump, vowed to put the agency ‘into the wood chipper’.

An email to staff on February 7 said that ‘all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative globally’ with plans under the so-call…