An anonymous employee at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has expressed deep concerns about recent actions by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), citing fears of privacy breaches and potential repercussions for themselves and their colleagues.
The employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, highlighted the anxiety within USAID following the Trump administration's announcement of plans to shut down the agency, leading to a sense of insecurity and uncertainty among staff members.
Specifically, the employee raised alarm about the access that DOGE members, including Elon Musk, have to sensitive personal information stored within USAID systems, such as email addresses, Social Security numbers, and security files containing extensive personal data.
The employee expressed distress over the perceived vulnerability of their information and criticized Musk for derogatory remarks about USAID, labeling it as a 'criminal organization' and a hub of 'radical-left Marxists.'
Furthermore, another USAID staffer revealed that a significant portion of the agency's staff lost access to crucial systems, including travel, communications, and classified information, raising concerns about the agency's ability to respond to emergencies and assist American citizens in perilous situations.
Staff members reportedly felt abandoned and uncertain about their future, with a sense of being 'hostilely taken over by DOGE' and left without clear guidance or support from Congress and the government.
Despite efforts by DOGE and the Trump administration to dismantle USAID, a federal judge intervened to block the mass furlough of thousands of USAID workers, providing a temporary reprieve for the agency's employees.
