President Donald Trump has taken a series of bold actions, including revoking his predecessor Joe Biden’s security clearance, as part of a broader set of executive moves aimed at reshaping U.S. government operations. In a flurry of new orders, Trump froze aid to South Africa—birthplace of his major donor Elon Musk—and appointed himself head of the prestigious Kennedy Center, one of Washington’s top cultural institutions.
Trump announced the revocation of Biden’s security clearance on his Truth Social platform, stating there was no reason for the former president to continue receiving classified information. “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” Trump wrote in all caps, signaling the end of Biden’s access to daily intelligence briefings. Traditionally, former presidents retain this privilege, but Trump’s decision marks a break from that precedent.
Trump also escalated his ongoing campaign to diminish the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which distributes global humanitarian aid. USAID has become a major target in Trump’s push, supported by Musk, to reduce or dismantle large parts of the U.S. government. On Friday, Musk, who has spread misinformation about the agency’s finances, shared images of USAID signage being removed from its Washington headquarters.
Under Trump’s orders, foreign aid has been frozen, and thousands of internationally-based USAID staff have been called back to the U.S. The agency’s workforce of 10,000 is being slashed to just around 300. Labor unions are challenging the legality of these actions, and a federal judge intervened on Friday, halting the administration’s plan to place 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave by the weekend. Democrats argue that Trump’s moves to shut down government agencies without congressional approval are unconstitutional.
