In a subsequent post, Musk doubled down and, without giving evidence, asked his 215 million X followers, "Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?"

He did not elaborate on the allegations, which officials in the previous administration linked to a Russian disinformation campaign.

The United States Agency for International Development has "been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out... and then we'll make a decision (on its future)," Trump said on Sunday without elaborating.

He underscored his support for Musk, telling reporters Sunday night he felt the billionaire was "doing a good job" even if they did not agree on every point.

"He's a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won't agree with it, or we'll not go where he wants to go ... he's a smart guy. Very smart. And he's very much into cutting the budget of our federal government," Trump said.

Trump initially froze all aid spending for three months, and though he subsequently issued waivers for food and other humanitarian aid to continue, aid workers say uncertainty reigns with the future of the organisation as an independent agency far from assured.

USAID, an independent agency established by an act of Congress, manages a budget of $42.8 billion meant for humanitarian relief and development assistance around the world.

A senior official from a US-based organisation feared that the prioritisation of "emergency" assistance was part of a broader plan in which Washington would discontinue funds for anything else.

There have been reports Trump wants to roll USAID into the State Department. His team did not respond to AFP calls for comment.

Total destruction

Musk has indicated he will give an update on the work of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a talk broadcast on his X platform at midnight Washington time.

It is unclear what will be covered in the event, but it could give further insight into the unchecked effort by Musk to map out government expenditure and operations.

Since Trump's inauguration Musk has addressed far-right groups in Europe, given an infamous raised-arm gesture compared to a Nazi salute and attacked the Treasury for making authorised payments on the government's behalf.

DOGE was founded as part of the so-called "executive office of the president," as a temporary 18-month organisation under the repurposed United States Digital Service.

It does not enjoy full status as a government department, which would require the approval of Congress, and Musk is neither federal employee nor a government official. It is unclear to whom DOGE is accountable.

CNN reported that two senior security officials at USAID were put on forced leave after they barred staff from Musk's DOGE from accessing classified documents as part of their sprawling effort to inspect the government's books.