Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told Newsmax Monday he applauds President Donald Trump's decision to shut down the USAID.
Staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development were instructed to stay out of the agency's Washington headquarters on Monday, according to a notice distributed to them, after billionaire Elon Musk announced the president agreed with him to close the agency in accordance with the Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk runs.
USAID staffers said they tracked 600 employees who reported being locked out of the agency's computer systems overnight. Those still in the system received emails in the agency system saying that "at the direction of Agency leadership" the headquarters building "will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3."
"I support what Elon Musk is trying to do," Comer said on "National Report." "There are going to be worthy government programs, and I think we're going to find there are a lot of government programs that are obsolete and a lot of government programs that are downright waste, fraud, and abuse."
He said he believes most Americans are overwhelmingly against foreign aid.
"With respect to me, other than the country of Israel, I don't see any need right now to continue foreign aid until some of these countries meet with Donald Trump and give us assurances that it's a good deal for the American taxpayers," Comer said. "I don't think it's a good deal in the overwhelming majority of these countries."
The Kentucky congressman said much of the aid money gets transferred to nongovernmental organizations and is used to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities in America.
"There's a lot of investigating that needs to take place, Comer said. "We've got to stop doing this blank check to every government organization and assuming that the money is being spent the way they've told us. I appreciate that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to get a handle on wasteful government spending."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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