One China expert told Newsweek that the USAID funding freeze had handed an "enormous gift" to Beijing's push to influence the Global South. Meanwhile, one Kremlin propagandist has said on Russian television that Moscow could exploit the gap left by USAID and project geopolitical power with a similar program.

Musk’s social media discussion on the Department of Government Efficiency included Vivek Ramaswamy along with Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee.