Post

SCOOP: From the beginning of Trump’s administration, DOGE had a plan to monitor USAID payments and was preparing to use US Treasury systems to halt them, according to new court documents, emails, and affidavits obtained by WIRED.

WIRED first reported that Marko Elez had read/write access to two BFS systems. Documents now reveal that Elez also had “read” access to an accounting system where federal funds are stored in pre-authorized accounts as of February 1—appearing in line with plans to target USAID.

What's the impact? Gutting USAID program like Fews Net, a long-running, broadly successful data analysis initiative that provides guidance to ensure that food aid is delivered in the least-wasteful way possible. “If you withdraw Fews Net, systems will collapse."

Last month, we also took a look at how USAID cuts have already led to devastating impacts around the world. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, teams that would normally be racing to identify a fatal sickness are gone.

Elon Musk claims he mistakenly fired Ebola prevention workers, then quickly fixed the error. But Ebola programs are still in tatters, along with other livesaving efforts like AIDS treatments for children.