Senate Republican's Message to 'Friends' Concerned Over Trump Admin's USAID Cuts: 'Call Somebody Who Cares'

Republican Senator John Kennedy anticipated the party's willingness to crack down on what members are describing as government overspending and excessive influence, saying that the intended shutdown of USAID is only the beginning.

"To my friends who are upset, I will say with respect, call somebody who cares. You better get used to this. It's USAID today, it's going to be the Department of Education tomorrow," Kennedy said in an interview with Fox News.

Republicans intended shutdown of USAID, an initiative being spearheaded by Elon Musk, is dominating the political conversation, with Democrats already announcing countermeasures. Sen. Brian Schatz said on Monday he is putting a "blanket hold" on all of President Donald Trump's nominees for State Department positions over the matter.

"Dismantling USAID is illegal and makes us less safe. USAID was created by federal law and is funded by Congress. Donald Trump and Elon Musk can't just wish it away with a stroke of a pen — they need to pass a law," Schatz said in a statement.

He added that "until and unless unless this brazenly authoritarian action is reversed and USAID is functional again," no nominees will be appointed to positions in the department. "This is self-inflicted chaos of epic proportions that will have dangerous consequences all around the world."

The "blanket hold" means Democrats will not agree to hold quick votes for nominees before the full Senate, delaying confirmations across the board. Since the GOP has a majority in the Upper House, all candidates can be confirmed in a party-line vote, but it will take more time than intended to do so.

The tool is not new nor infrequent, with Republicans using it several times during the Biden administration in protest of some measures.

USAID employees were told not to report to work on Monday after Elon Musk claimed that President Donald Trump agreed with him to shut down the agency.

At least 600 personnel said they were locked out of the USAID's database overnight while staffers with access received emails that said headquarters "will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday, Feb. 3," the Associated Press reported. The agency's website also went dark on Sunday as Trump froze U.S. foreign aid.

"It became apparent that it's not an apple with a worm in it," Musk said in a live session on X Spaces early Monday. "What we have is just a ball of worms. You've got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It's beyond repair," he said. "We're shutting it down," he added.

Like Kennedy said, Republicans have also set their sights on the Department of Education. In that context, Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced a bill seeking to abolish the agency by the end of 2026.

"Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children's intellectual and moral development," Massie said when justifying his decision. "States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students."