Democratic Representative Ro Khanna called for billionaire Elon Musk to be held accountable for his work as head of DOGE, which he held for several months in 2025. In the I've Had It podcast, Khanna said the department's spending cuts could cost the lives of 4.5 million children around the world.
In an interview with journalist Jennifer Welch, Hannah noted that if control of Congress is transferred to the Democratic Party following the midterm elections in November, legislators should initiate an investigation into Musk’s actions related to the liquidation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“I really believe that once you come to power, there should be accountability. Elon Musk must be held accountable. They rejoice that he 'created' 4,400 millionaires, but no one talks about the 4.5 million children around the world that he may have condemned to death by dismantling USAID,” Khanna said.
According to him, Musk is obliged to report to Congress about his work within the framework of DOGE and suffer proportionate punishment.
“He must answer for this. He must be summoned to a hearing and an investigation into his activities must be conducted. He should explain what he did under DOGE. You can’t just say, ‘Let’s move on,’” Hanna added.
USAID was created in 1961 and, until its closure, distributed billions of dollars annually around the world for programs to combat poverty, hunger, disease and natural disasters. The agency also funded non-governmental organizations, independent media, and various initiatives aimed at supporting democratic institutions.
After Donald Trump took office as President of the United States for a second term and the appointment of Elon Musk as head of the new agency, the start of a campaign to eliminate USAID was announced. Last February, Musk published a number of messages criticizing the agency on his social network X (formerly Twitter). He called USAID “evil,” accused it of funding “propaganda” through the media, characterized it as a “criminal organization,” and argued that the agency was “a nest of vipers for radical left-wing Marxists who hate America.”
In March, federal judge Theodore Chuan ruled that Elon Musk's actions violated the US Constitution. The court emphasized that Musk, despite the administration's statements about his role as an adviser to the president, made decisions that went beyond his authority.
Closing USAID was one of DOGE's most visible moves to cut government spending. It was argued that the reform would eliminate ineffective budget spending, including about $60 billion in annual foreign aid. The agency has spent about $715 billion since its inception, according to the administration.
