A lawless government seeks to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

CONNECT THE DOTS: Coup d'état in progress

Developing

BACKGROUND

1)Le Monde avec AFP,”La fin annoncée de l’USAID, l’Agence pour le développement international, liquidée par Elon Musk et l’administration Trump; Le premier pourvoyeur d’aide humanitaire dans le monde va « fermer », a déclaré le multimilliardaire Elon Musk. La Maison Blanche a rappelé que ce dernier ne prenait pas de décision sans son accord. Des experts ont mis en cause la legality de cette décision,” Le Monde,le 3 férier 2025 (modifié à 21h01);

2)Le Monde with AFP, ”The announced end of USAID, the Agency for International Development, to be liquidated by Elon Musk and the Trump administration; The world's leading humanitarian aid provider will "close," said multi-billionaire Elon Musk. The White House recalled that the latter did not make a decision without Trump’s consent. Experts have questioned the legality of this decision,” Le Monde, February 3, 2025 (updated at 9:01 p.m.)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was established by Act of Congress. It’s annual funding is established by Act of Congress.

The president does not have legal authority to shut it down or to fire its career employees without cause, as ‘cause” is defined in tbe case law and in a particular case by a court of law.

As part of the coup d’etat currently underway, President Trump has issued a slew of executive orders and other decisions that are illegal. By unleashing these illegal actions like a firehose spewing illegalities, Trump and his fascist team including unelected co-president Elon Musk have been seeking to overwhelm the legal defenses against these actions that are available to citizens and interest groups in a democracy governed by the rule of law.

In the short term, Trump and his accomplices seem to be achieving their goals, because it takes time to hire lawyers and line up financial support to challenge such illegal actions in court. It takes even more time for courts to halt and reverse such illegal actions.

While the Supreme Court has in Trump v. U.S. turned the Constitution on its head by holding that the president is immune from criminal prosecution for his “official acts”, it is far from clear that Elon Musk would enjoy prosecutorial immunity for his blatantly illegal acts.

What is urgently required at the present moment is the establishment and funding of one or more rapid legal defense mechanisms. One or more billion-dollar funds should be set up at the earliest opportunity to enable interested parties to immediately challenge in court the illegal actions of the president and his co-conspirators.

The author is trying hard not to react to each new outrage by the president or his collaborators.

However, when a coup d’état is in progress, this is extremely hard to do.

Many are responding to Trump’s illegal actions. However, where I have special knowledge and experience, and I don’t see others making specific arguments or making them often enough, I feel obligated to speak out and draw attention to obvious points others may have missed, or which bear repeating.

I have worked as a contractor for USAID and the State Department in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and in Russia and Afghanistan.

I know what I’m talking about.

(More to follow)