WASHINGTON: Elon Musk attacked the US Agency for International Development on Sunday, calling it a “criminal organisation” after Donald Trump moved to freeze the bulk of Washington´s foreign assistance for three months.

The Trump administration has since issued waivers for food and other humanitarian aid. But aid workers say uncertainty reigns — and that the impact is already being felt by some of the world´s most vulnerable.

Trump has tasked Musk with cutting the government workforce and slashing what the Republican calls waste and unnecessary spending under the guise of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is now reportedly taking aim at USAID.

“USAID is a criminal organisation,” Musk 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.

There have been reports Trump wants to roll USAID into the State Department. His team did not respond to AFP calls for comment.

USAID´s account on X had been disabled, AFP confirmed, and the agency´s website was still offline.