Democrats blocked from entering USAID headquarters

A group of Senate and House Democrats were blocked from entering the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Monday.

The Democratic lawmakers, who are opposed to President Trump's efforts to shut down the agency, left without incident after a brief exchange with security officials. The group, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), were told the front office of the administrator of USAID was not available to meet.

A select group of USAID employees with the front office administrator were in the office Monday, an official told lawmakers outside the doors, but were not free to meet with the lawmakers.

“Underwhelming,” one Democratic lawmaker said about being blocked from entering.

The USAID website went dark over the weekend, as information was moved to the State Department’s website and employees were told to telework.

The events on Monday added to chaos and uncertainty surrounding the agency’s operations since Trump issued a freeze on all U.S. foreign aid two weeks earlier, stop-work orders for USAID grant recipients, and laid off and furloughed staff.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk claimed on Monday that Trump agreed with him to shut down the agency.

Van Hollen has said lawmakers are working to file legal proceedings to stop the Trump administration, Musk, and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from “undoing USAID.”

“We’re working with lawyers to try and get an injunction,” Van Hollen said.

Lawmakers assembled a press conference outside USAID headquarters in Washington D.C. to protest the assault on the agency.

“What Trump and Musk have done is not only wrong, it’s illegal,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Virg.),

“USAID was established by an act of Congress, and it can only be disbanded by an act of Congress.”

Democrats focused their ire on Musk, in particular.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called Musk part of an “unelected billionaire class trying to take over our government.”

“This was an illegal power grab by someone who contributed $267 million to the Trump” reelection campaign, Van Hollen said.

The Maryland senator also committed, alongside Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), to stall, delay and vote against Trump’s nominees who require Senate confirmation, as long as USAID is under attack.

“We’re all in this together,” Van Hollen said.

Updated: 3:42 p.m.

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