Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has leveled accusations of dictatorial behavior against President Trump while criticizing his and Elon Musk's efforts to restructure the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a speech outside the USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., Omar joined other Democratic lawmakers to condemn what they see as an attempt by Trump and Musk to seize control of independent agencies and drastically reduce spending. Omar characterized the situation as a "constitutional crisis" and stated, "This is what the beginning of dictatorship looks like when you gut the Constitution, and you install yourself as the sole power."

She argued that Trump, Musk, and their associates are undermining Congress's constitutional authority to allocate funds. Omar, who spent four years in a refugee camp as a child, expressed her personal connection to USAID, highlighting the agency's role in providing essential aid and safety to her family. She criticized the involvement of "privileged billionaires" in decisions that impact the well-being of Americans.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) echoed Omar's concerns, asserting that Congress, not Musk, has the authority over USAID. Raskin emphasized the constitutional power of Congress to control the allocation of public funds.

Musk responded to the criticism on social media, claiming the protesting politicians were motivated by their own financial interests in USAID funding. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers have expressed support for the proposed changes, arguing that USAID has deviated from its original mission and requires significant budget cuts. They cited examples of what they consider misdirected spending, such as funds allocated for diversity programs in Serbia and LGBT initiatives in Guatemala.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) criticized USAID as a "corrupt governmental organization" and questioned the use of taxpayer money for what he considers questionable projects overseas. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) argued that shutting down USAID would reduce the national debt and encourage self-reliance in aid-dependent countries.

The State Department announced that Secretary Marco Rubio has been appointed Acting Administrator of USAID and that a review of the agency's activities is underway. The review aims to ensure that USAID's operations align with an "America First" agenda and the State Department's efforts.