Elon Musk attacked the US Agency for International Development, calling it a "criminal organisation" on Sunday, as Donald Trump said the agency was "run by radical lunatics" and said he was considering its future, El.kz cites hindustantimes.com.
The assault on the agency tasked with humanitarian relief overseas marks a significant new front in Trump's move to give unprecedented power to Musk to upend government departments and counter what the pair consider wasteful official spending and overreach.
"USAID is a criminal organization," Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX who has become the president's most powerful backer, wrote on his X platform, replying to a video alleging USAID involvement in "rogue CIA work" and "internet censorship."
In a subsequent post, Musk doubled down and, without giving evidence, asked his 215 million X followers, "Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?"
He did not elaborate on the allegations, which officials in the previous administration linked to a Russian disinformation campaign.
The United States Agency for International Development has "been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out... and then we'll make a decision (on its future)," Trump said on Sunday without elaborating.
He underscored his support for Musk, telling reporters Sunday night he felt the billionaire was "doing a good job" even if they did not agree on every point.
"He's a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won't agree with it or we'll not go where he wants to go...he's a smart guy. Very smart. And he's very much into cutting the budget of our federal government," Trump said.
Trump initially froze all aid spending for three months, and though he subsequently issued waivers for food and other humanitarian aid to continue, aid workers say uncertainty reigns with the future of the organization as an independent agency far from assured.
USAID, an independent agency established by an act of Congress, manages a budget of $42.8 billion meant for humanitarian relief and development assistance around the world.
A senior official from a US-based organization feared that the prioritization of "emergency" assistance was part of a broader plan in which Washington would discontinue funds for anything else.
There have been reports Trump wants to roll USAID into the State Department. His team did not respond to AFP calls for comment.
Musk has indicated he will give an update on the work of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a talk broadcast on his X platform at midnight Washington time (0500 GMT).
It is unclear what will be covered in the event, but it could give further insight into the unchecked effort by Musk map out government expenditure and operations.
Since Trump's inauguration Musk has addressed far-right groups in Europe, given an infamous raised-arm gesture compared to a Nazi salute, and attacked the Treasury for making authorized payments on the government's behalf.
DOGE was founded as part of the so-called "executive office of the president," as a temporary 18-month organization under the repurposed United States Digital Service.