Staff Reports
Before its abrupt closure, USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development, became a veritable buffet line for leftist causes, doling out taxpayer dollars to organizations backed by the infamous George Soros, various terrorist outfits, and even drag performance initiatives. Talk about a mismanagement masterclass.
Under the oversight of the previous administration, USAID found itself under a magnifying glass. Allegations of a lack of transparency and deviation from actual foreign policy objectives raised serious concerns. The Trump administration discovered that funds were flowing to questionable programs not just in far-off lands, but to initiatives that would make a conservative cringe. The list included everything from contraceptive programs in Afghanistan to extravagant diversity initiatives in Europe—hardly the kind of priorities one might expect from an administration aiming to put America First.
Before it was shuttered, USAID routed funds to Soros-aligned causes, terrorists and drag queens https://t.co/kk638wuXlC
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) February 6, 2025
This was just a warm-up act for the larger symphony of dysfunction. Funding records revealed that USAID was more than willing to show Soros some love. One prominent example was the East-West Management Institute, a group that received over $260 million in grants for projects many critics labeled as “social engineering.” Apparently, the agency thought it was a good idea to fund initiatives aiming to reshape political landscapes in countries like Georgia and Uganda, effectively sowing the seeds for leftist ideologies abroad.
Further scrutiny unveiled that USAID’s formula for allocating funds included everything from judicial reforms in Albania—which some GOP Senators claimed would hand over judicial power to the Albanian Prime Minister—to quirky programs like a “transgender comic book” in Peru. Newsflash: when the government is sending money logic into a proportional meltdown with a DEI musical in Ireland, there’s a strong chance taxpayer dollars are being squandered.
The agency’s funding choices drew the ire of several Republican Senators who pinpointed the use of American taxpayer money for funding projects that resembled a progressive wishlist rather than genuine foreign aid. In many cases, funds made it into the coffers of organizations dedicated to eradicating corruption—except it turned out these organizations were far too cozy with folks in Soros’ orbit. Even a group like the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine got a slice of the funding pie, right around the time the Obama administration was having a giddy time orchestrating governmental upheaval.
As if the mere existence of these programs wasn’t alarming enough, there were darker revelations lurking underneath. Funds meant for essential services were being diverted to terrorist organizations, with one Syrian national reportedly channeling over $9 million intended for humanitarian aid right into the hands of Al-Qaeda affiliates. The inspector general of USAID pointed out vulnerabilities and the inadequate monitoring of foreign aid, suggesting that this was far from a one-off incident. If taxpayer money was going to get funneled into the hands of terrorists or mismanaged, USAID was a prime channel.
USAID’s abysmal record serves as a cautionary tale about why dumping taxpayer funds into global initiatives without stringent oversight can backfire spectacularly. The recent closure of the agency isn’t just a win for common sense; it might just be a wake-up call for the entire foreign aid machinery.
