On Friday, President Donald Trump took a series of swift and dramatic actions, revoking the security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, while escalating his efforts to dismantle the U.S. humanitarian agency responsible for global aid and American influence.
In a flurry of new directives, the 78-year-old billionaire also froze U.S. aid to South Africa, the birthplace of his top donor, Elon Musk, and named himself the new head of the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
“There is no reason for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump announced on his Truth Social platform. He confirmed that he was “immediately” revoking Biden’s security clearances and ending his daily intelligence briefings. “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” Trump added in bold, all caps.
Traditionally, former U.S. presidents continue to receive intelligence briefings after leaving office, a courtesy Biden had been granted—until now.
Trump also intensified his campaign against the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees humanitarian assistance globally. “THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!” Trump posted on Truth Social, though he did not provide supporting evidence.
The Trump administration’s attacks on USAID are part of a broader effort led by Musk—who has also spread unverified claims about the agency’s financial practices—to downsize or eliminate key U.S. government institutions. On Friday, Musk shared images of USAID’s signage being removed from its Washington headquarters.
The administration has already frozen foreign aid, ordered thousands of USAID staffers to return to the U.S., and slashed the agency’s workforce from around 10,000 employees to just 300. Labor unions have filed legal challenges to these measures, and a federal judge temporarily halted a plan to place 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave by the weekend. Democrats argue that such sweeping actions to dismantle government agencies would be unconstitutional without congressional approval.
U.S. international assistance, which includes about $70 billion in foreign aid, makes up a small fraction of the federal budget but is seen as a powerful tool for global influence. USAID runs critical health and emergency programs in about 120 countries, particularly in some of the world’s poorest regions. Critics, however, argue that such spending is wasteful, with hard-right Republicans and libertarians questioning the need for the agency.
Samantha Power, USAID administrator under President Biden, denounced Trump’s actions as a “costly foreign policy blunder” in a scathing op-ed for The New York Times.
Additionally, Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a role traditionally held by others. He criticized the center for hosting “drag shows specifically targeting our youth,” a reference he made on Truth Social without clarifying which events he was referring to. This move fits within Trump’s broader, ongoing attacks on gender-nonconforming individuals.
Trump also followed through on his promise to freeze U.S. aid to South Africa, citing a law in the country he claimed allowed the seizure of farmland from white farmers—a claim the South African government has denied. Musk, a frequent critic of the South African government, has supported this stance.
Meanwhile, Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked controversy, with recent reports revealing that Musk and his team had accessed sensitive data from the Treasury Department. An internal assessment described their access as “the single biggest insider threat the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.” Adding to the turmoil, one DOGE member resigned after it was revealed he had advocated racist and eugenic views on social media. Trump, however, supported the staffer’s reinstatement, with Musk announcing plans to bring him back.
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the matter, stating that “stupid social media activity should not ruin a kid’s life,” in defense of the controversial staffer.
The rapid succession of actions, including attacks on government agencies and foreign policy shifts, has triggered legal challenges and raised concerns among many lawmakers and citizens. Democrats are pushing back against the disruption to longstanding U.S. policies and government institutions, with ongoing court battles set to shape the future of Trump’s aggressive political agenda.
