- Hundreds of US government websites, including USAID, went offline on Monday amid President Trump’s online purge.
- Over 350 sites were unavailable, including those linked to defense, commerce, energy, and transportation departments.
- The move is part of Trump’s drive to shrink the US government, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In a massive online purge, hundreds of US government websites went offline on Monday, including the humanitarian agency USAID, which is being shut down by President Trump’s administration. An AFP review found that over 350 sites were unavailable, including those linked to key departments such as defense, commerce, energy, and transportation.
The development comes amid Trump’s controversial drive to radically shrink the US government, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive, has been instrumental in Trump’s federal cost-cutting efforts.
On Monday, Musk declared that USAID would be shuttered, labeling the agency, which runs relief programs in about 120 countries, a “criminal organization.” USAID’s website was offline, and employees were instructed by email not to report to their offices.
The online purge also saw top public health agencies scrub references to LGBTQ after a Trump directive instructed them to terminate programs promoting “gender ideology.” Trump has already issued executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion in the government u.
