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2 senior security officials on leave after denying Musk agency's access to classified systems

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk gestures on stage when he speaks inside the Capital One Arena after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in Washington, DC on January 20. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI
1 of 2 | Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk gestures on stage when he speaks inside the Capital One Arena after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in Washington, DC on January 20. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Two top officials in the U.S. Agency for International Development have been put on leave after they refused to provide Elon Musk's new agency on government efficiency access to classified documents.

Agents from Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, tried to access the USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., but were stopped, CNN reported. The DOGE personnel demanded to be let in and threatened to call U.S. Marshals to be allowed access, two of the sources said.

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The DOGE personnel were trying to gain access to USAID security systems and personnel files, sources said. They added that the DOGE personnel, who did not have the required security clearances, wanted access to classified information.

The DOGE investigators did eventually gain access Saturday to the classified information, which includes intelligence reports, a former USAID official said.

In a social media post Sunday in response to the incident, Musk called USAID a criminal organization.

"Time for it to die," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. It was one of many posts and reposts by Musk on Sunday criticizing the agency.

Dismantling USAID

Trump claimed repeatedly during the presidential campaign the he would take aim at USAID, which is an independent agency that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

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Trump said it needs to be abolished because it is largely staffed with Democrats. He said its duties would be absorbed by the State Department. Officials there have said the agency is not equipped to handle the duties that USAID often carries out.

Trump signed an executive order last week freezing nearly all foreign assistance worldwide, and threatened billions of dollars in USAID funding.

At least 60 senior USAID staff were put on leave last week, accused of attempting to get around the foreign aid executive order. Director John Voorhees and his deputy were among them. Voorhees has expressed concern that the agency is being intentionally dismantled.

Democrats have said it would be illegal to dismantle the agency without Congressional approval.

The main website for USAID went offline this weekend.

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