USAID has outlived the Soviet Union, which fell in 1991. Today, supporters of USAID argue that U.S. assistance in countries counters Russian and Chinese influence. China has its own “belt and road” foreign aid program worldwide operating in many countries that the U.S. also wants as partners.

Employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were informed on Monday that their headquarters in downtown Washington was shut for the day, hours after billionaire Elon Musk said President Donald Trump agreed that Washington's primary humanitarian agency should be closed.

Elon Musk said in the early hours Monday that he and President Donald Trump are shutting down the agency, which serves as the U.S. government’s main international humanitarian and development arm.