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Musk’s Illegal Power Grab Stalls as Judge Rules USAID Dismantling Unconstitutional [1]

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Date: 2025-03-19

Elon Musk’s reckless attempt to seize control of U.S. foreign aid policy and dismantle USAID has just hit a massive legal roadblock. On March 18, 2025, a federal judge ruled that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) acted unconstitutionally by gutting USAID without congressional approval.

This ruling is a major blow to the Trump-Musk junta, which has spent months slashing aid programs, leaving millions without access to life-saving resources. It confirms what experts and lawmakers have been warning since the beginning: DOGE is not a real government agency—it’s a billionaire’s personal wrecking ball, wielded to destroy humanitarian efforts and consolidate power.

Musk’s Unchecked Power Finally Faces a Challenge

From the moment Musk was appointed to run DOGE, he has operated with near-total impunity, steamrolling agencies he didn’t like and declaring federal programs “dead” with the same smug confidence he uses to tweet about self-driving cars that don’t work. Under his leadership, DOGE’s main function has been eliminating safeguards for the world’s most vulnerable people, including the poor, the sick, and those relying on U.S. assistance for survival.

Musk and his allies in the Trump administration thought they could rip apart USAID without consequence. They were wrong. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang issued an injunction, halting the dismantling of USAID and ruling that Musk’s authority over foreign aid was unconstitutional. The judge specifically cited the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, arguing that Musk—who was never confirmed by the Senate, never elected, and never held public office before this administration—had no legal right to wield this level of power over American foreign policy.

This decision exposes DOGE for what it really is—not a legitimate government reform effort, but an unconstitutional power grab, carried out by a tech billionaire who believes he can do whatever he wants without oversight.

The Damage Musk Has Already Done

While this ruling is an important step, the damage Musk has already inflicted is enormous. His sabotage of USAID has left millions of people in crisis zones without medical aid, food assistance, and disaster relief. The WHO recently warned that eight countries are on the verge of running out of HIV medications due to Musk’s cuts, setting the stage for a catastrophic spike in infections and deaths.

The humanitarian fallout has been immediate. USAID-supported programs fighting famine, providing maternal healthcare, and ensuring access to clean water have collapsed overnight in multiple regions. While the judge’s ruling may prevent further destruction, Musk and Trump have already left their mark—one measured in suffering, starvation, and loss of life.

Trump and Musk’s Endgame: A Government That Serves Billionaires, Not People

Let’s be clear: Musk and Trump don’t actually care about “government efficiency.” If they did, DOGE would be cutting waste in defense contracts, slashing subsidies for oil companies, or fixing the broken tax loopholes that let billionaires like Musk pay nothing in taxes.

But that’s not what they’re doing. Instead, they are dismantling programs that help the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable. USAID is being gutted not because it’s inefficient, but because it represents a version of America that Trump and Musk hate—one that helps people rather than exploiting them.

This ruling is a devastating setback for Musk’s ambitions, but the fight isn’t over. The Trump administration has already signaled that it will appeal, hoping to install more far-right judges who will let Musk continue his destruction.

This Fight Is Far from Over

If you think this ruling means the crisis is over, think again. Musk and Trump will keep pushing to dismantle foreign aid, strip away social programs, and turn the government into a playground for the ultra-rich.

Please tell your Members of Congress to support humanitarian aid. You can find their name and phone number here .

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