PERSONAL DATA
The tempo and depth of Musk’s operation, which is utilizing staff introduced from his personal corporations, has caught opponents off guard.
In a single particularly tense episode, Musk’s crew insisted on having access to the Treasury’s extremely delicate fee system, which is used for dispatching trillions of {dollars} a yr and comprises Individuals’ private information.
The assault on USAID comes within the context of long-running narratives on the hard-line conservative and libertarian wings of the Republican Occasion that the USA wastes cash on foreigners whereas ignoring Individuals.
The company describes itself as working “to finish excessive poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies whereas advancing our safety and prosperity”.
Its funds of greater than US$40 billion is a small drop in total US authorities annual spending of practically US$7 trillion.
Amongst different criticisms, which Musk has not substantiated, he claims USAID does “rogue CIA work” and even “funded bioweapon analysis, together with Covid-19, that killed thousands and thousands of individuals”.
One particular person welcoming the obvious dying knell for the help company was former Russian president – and ally to present ruler Vladimir Putin – Dmitry Medvedev.