We've just heard from a number of Democratic Party lawmakers. Here's a recap of some of the main points from the press conference:

• Democrats pushed back at Trump's attempts to shutter the US government's main international aid department, calling the moves illegal
• They also took aim at Elon Musk who appears to be leading the charge - one lawmaker called him an "unelected billionaire oligarch"
• The Democrats have emphasised the agency's life-saving aid work but have also raised national security concerns and geopolitics - noting that money from USAID goes to guarding Islamic State prisoners, and that US rivals are celebrating the turmoil
• The lawmakers contend that the shutdown of the agency is against the law and that changes can only be made after debate in Congress

Image source, US Pool

The lawmakers have now entered the offices of USAID in Washington, trailed by media, staff, and some other people.

Senator Van Hollen's X account was initially streaming the walk-in live. Before the video cut off, it appeared that the lawmakers made it through the lobby and were waiting at metal detectors. At least one officer with "Police DHS" (Department of Homeland Security) was visible on the feed.

Before the stream stopped, a staffer for the Senator could be heard saying the lawmakers might hold another briefing with media later today.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who came to the US as a refugee from Somalia and now represents parts of the state of Minnesota, shares firsthand perspective about USAID's role.

Omar shares that she once lived in a refugee camp and that USAID assistance "kept my family fed and safe".

She said aid programmes "creates goodwill for the American people" because it reinforces the US's soft power in the world.

Omar claims that the Trump administration's moves made against USAID are "what the beginning of a dictatorship looks like".

Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, says he will not "pull any punches about why this is happening".

"Elon Musk makes billions of dollars based off of his business with China, and China is cheering at this action today," he claims.

"There is no question that the billionaire class trying to take over our government right now is doing it based on self interest, their belief that if they can make us weaker in the world, if they can elevate their business partners all around the world, they will gain the benefit."

He then accuses the Trump administration of shuttering agencies and laying off workers to create an illusion of saving money, to cover for a tax cut Trump has said he wants to enact.

"This is all a smoke screen, a shell game."

Then he repeats something that more and more Democrats are starting to say.

"This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is," he says.

As we've reported previously, Trump tapped Musk to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He has not faced congressional approval or a background check to obtain the position, but said he is aiming to shutter USAID - an agency created by Congress.

Maryland Representative Johnny Olszewski is at the microphone continuing the attacks on Trump and Musk.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook with constituents terrified by what President Trump and Elon Musk have been doing since their very first moment in office, which is defying Congress, ignoring the law, and denying the will of the American people,” he says.

Olszewski says the Trump freeze on foreign assistance is delaying life-saving aid and ceding ground to countries like China.

He also mentions an incident where prison guards funded by the US and overseeing thousands of Islamic State fighters in Syria almost walked off the job.

“This is real life, this is dangerous and this is serious,” says Olszewski, who was elected to the US House for the first time in November and has been in Congress for just a month.

USAID funding accounts for less than 1% of the US budget. It provides assistance "to strategically important countries and countries in conflict; leads US efforts to alleviate poverty, disease, and humanitarian need; and assists US commercial interests by supporting developing countries’ economic growth", according to the Congressional Research Service.

"We will do all that we can in Congress, but we need you, America to listen and to act," says Representative Johnny Olszewski of Maryland.

"Because today, it's USAID. Tomorrow it's our healthcare, it's social security, it's our livelihoods, it's our freedoms.”

As Democrats have emphasised, USAID was established by Congress. The president cannot abolish or dismantle the agency without congressional approval, and critics say that his effort to do so unilaterally would create a constitutional crisis in the US.

As a reminder, you can also watch this press conference live at the top of this page.

Jamie Raskin, a frequent political foe of Donald Trump, is taking the fight directly to Elon Musk, who is leading efforts to dismantle USAID.

Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - which is not a government department, but a team within the Trump administration.

"Elon Musk, you didn't create USAID, the United States Congress did for the American people. And just like Elon Musk did not create USAID, he doesn't have the power to destroy it," he says.

"We don't have a fourth branch of government called 'Elon Musk,'" he also says.

He then notes that Musk's SpaceX company has contracts with the defence department and says he "became the richest man in the world off our money".

• For context: The US government has three branches. They're the Legislative (congress), Executive (presidency) and Judicial (courts, with the Supreme Court on top).

Democrat lawmaker Gerry Connolly says “no-one elected Elon Musk to dismantle” USAID.

“Congress created this agency,” he says.

“If you want to change it, you’ve got to change that law.

“It’s a matter for Congress to deal with, not an unelected billionaire oligarch named Elon Musk.”

He suggests that if Musk wants to run the agency, he should get nominated by President Donald Trump and face Senate hearings.

“Good luck in getting confirmed,” he says.

Trump appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but he has appeared to act broadly in US government without facing congressional approval, a background check or conflict of interest review.

Representative Gerry Connolly, a top Democrat on foreign aid issues, has pledged to fight to protect all the programmes and assistance provided by USAID.

"We're here to save lives," he says, and then adds "lives all over the world".

Stick with us as we continue to bring you the key lines from this press conference. You can also click watch live at the top of this page.

"It's not only a gift to our adversaries.... it is plain illegal," Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat said of merging USAID into the State Department.

Democratic lawmakers have gathered outside USAID headquarters in Washington DC.

They are now speaking about how they believe shutting down USAID is a "clear and present danger" to US national security.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, says that closing this agency will only aid US adversaries and cites Russian President Vladimir Putin's celebration of its closure.

Image source, Getty Images

President Donald Trump reportedly made Secretary of State Marco Rubio the administrator of USAID.

Sources told CBS News, BBC's US partner, that the president had made the move, and the secretary of state confirmed this to reporters who were travelling with him on his first foreign trip. He is currently in El Salvador - his second stop on the journey through Central America.

Rubio said that he will designate someone else to take on day-to-day responsibilities, though he has not yet identified that person.

Hello and welcome to the BBC’s live coverage of the Trump administration’s effort to dismantle and shut down the US Agency for International Development - or USAID.

The Trump administration reportedly intends to merge the agency with the US Department of State after days of upheaval, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying he is now in charge of the agency.

This will involve a significant reduction in USAID funding as well as its workforce - according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

This comes as employees of the agency were told to stay home on Monday and Elon Musk - who heads President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - claimed on X that the agency would be shut down. Musk is not a government official.

The BBC has reached out to the White House for comment on the matter.

Just days ago, USAID’s website stopped working and its top security officials were placed on leave after they reportedly refused to provide Doge representatives with access to secure files.

Democrats are starting to push back on the matter and are scheduled to hold a press conference on the matter shortly, which you can watch live at the top of this page Follow live as we bring you the latest.