Staff Reports
In a move that has left left-wing activists shaking their heads, the Trump administration has put the brakes on the extravagant spending spree of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). As part of his America First approach, President Trump is making it clear that foreign aid should be more about ensuring national interests and less about funding pet projects of the radical left. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been handed the reins to ensure that taxpayer dollars get spent wisely, and judging by the latest revelations regarding USAID, it’s about time an adult walked into the room.
USAID, with its sprawling $40 billion budget, has for far too long spilled taxpayer dollars into an endless pit of silly initiatives that leave many scratching their heads over who exactly benefits from such expenditures. From “sex-change” operations in Guatemala funded to the tune of $2 million, to funding drag shows in Ecuador—there’s a strong argument to be made that the agency has been operating as a global charity rather than a representative of American values. It seems taxpayers, who might prefer roads and bridges over “gender-affirming health care,” are finally getting a break from the outlandish spending habits of USAID.
For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.⁰⁰Here are… pic.twitter.com/3GN2tJoEez
— RC MAGA (@TheWayandThruth) February 5, 2025
Among the more ludicrous allocations was the whopping $70,880 for a musical that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in Ireland. While many Americans struggle to make ends meet, apparently, USAID thought bolstering LGBTQ+ visibility over oceans was the pressing issue of the day. And as for their 3D-printed contraceptives aimed at women in underdeveloped nations? One can only imagine how many American families taking care of their own could have benefited from that cash instead.
Under Trump’s mandate, USAID staffers have been scrambling to bypass the spending freeze, asking for waivers to keep their futile projects afloat. It’s almost comical how desperate some of these requests sound: proposals to fund LGBTQ+ initiatives and climate “justice” efforts clashed with the Department of State’s mission of putting America first. Apparently, the notion of “environmental justice” is a priority for some, while the hard-working American taxpayers continue to wonder why they’re footing the bill for climate change workshops in countries that couldn’t care less about their struggles.
In the past, USAID hasn’t just wasted money on frivolous initiatives; there are troubling allegations that it has inadvertently — or perhaps purposely — funded terrorism-supporting operations. Reports have indicated that USAID has funneled food assistance to groups linked to Al-Qaeda and provided financial support to organizations with ties to Hamas. If that wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, the agency’s past partnership with dubious organizations like EcoHealth Alliance raises further concern, drawing a straight line from Joe taxpayer to a nexus of global mischief.
With Trump’s freeze on foreign aid, there’s an opportunity to take a scalpel to the government’s spending habits—cutting the waste and ensuring that what’s left aligns with American values and interests. It’s time to make sure that aid benefits not only those abroad but also the hardworking American families whose dollars are being thrown around like confetti at a parade. It turns out that stopping USAID from becoming a global charity might just be the common sense move that taxpayers have been waiting for. Who knew?
