Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, in a series of bold new orders. Trump also intensified his efforts to dismantle the U.S. humanitarian agency responsible for aiding
impoverished nations while extending American influence globally.
On Friday, Trump, 78, announced he was stripping Biden of access to classified intelligence.
“There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
U.S. presidents traditionally retain the right to receive intelligence briefings even after leaving office, but Trump’s order marks a break from that norm.
Trump also escalated his attack on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides humanitarian aid worldwide.
“THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!” he wrote on Truth Social, though he provided no supporting evidence.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a top Trump donor, has also been pushing to reduce the government’s size and spending. On Friday, Musk shared images of USAID signage being removed from its Washington headquarters.
The Trump administration has already frozen foreign aid, ordered thousands of international staff to return to the U.S., and cut USAID’s workforce from 10,000 employees to just 300.
Labor unions have challenged the legality of these actions. A federal judge issued a temporary halt on Trump’s plan to place 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave by the weekend.
The U.S. budget allocates around $70 billion for international assistance, a small percentage of total federal spending. However, USAID plays a crucial role in providing health and emergency programs in about 120 countries,
strengthening U.S. influence in global affairs, particularly against rivals like China.
Former USAID chief Samantha Power criticized Trump’s moves, calling them “one of the worst and most costly foreign policy blunders in U.S. history.”
Hard-right Republicans and libertarians have long questioned USAID’s necessity, often labeling its international efforts as wasteful spending.
In another controversial decision, Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, a prestigious cultural venue in Washington, D.C.
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” Trump declared on Truth Social, without specifying which show he was referring to.
Trump has consistently voiced opposition to gender-nonconforming individuals.
Trump also followed through on his promise to freeze U.S. aid to South Africa, citing an alleged law allowing farmland seizures from white farmers. The South African government has denied such claims. Musk, who was born in South Africa,
has frequently criticized its administration.
Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been aggressively cutting federal programs. However, these actions have sparked legal battles.
A judge recently blocked Trump’s attempt to overturn birthright citizenship, while another court paused efforts to lay off thousands of federal workers.
Additionally, Musk faced backlash for allegedly accessing sensitive Treasury Department data and systems. An internal assessment labeled the DOGE team’s access “the single biggest insider threat” the department has ever faced.
Further controversy arose when a DOGE team member resigned after reports surfaced of his racist and eugenics-related social media posts. Despite the backlash, Trump backed the individual, leading Musk to reinstate him.
Vice President JD Vance defended the move, stating that “stupid social media activity should not ruin a kid’s life.”
Trump’s latest actions have sparked heated debates across the U.S. and beyond. As legal challenges unfold, the impact of his decisions on U.S. foreign policy, government agencies, and global influence remains to be seen.
