The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to be dissolved, with its responsibilities transferred to the State Department, following scrutiny by former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
The Daily Mail reported that the decision arises from concerns that USAID's spending does not effectively align with key United States priorities such as advancing education and infrastructure.
Since Trump's takeover, auditing has discovered millions of dollars being misallocated or wasted on bizarre initiatives.
USAID, originally established in 1961, was created to deliver American assistance across the globe. Recently, however, the agency has encountered criticism for its spending priorities.
Some Republican lawmakers express concern that USAID is prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives too heavily over traditional diplomatic goals.
In response to these apprehensions, Trump and Musk have collaboratively decided to dismantle USAID. All of its functions will be incorporated into the State Department
. Elon Musk emphasized the agency's irreparable state, stating, "You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair. We’re shutting it down." In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed the role of acting director of USAID.
To facilitate a thorough assessment of USAID’s financial allocations, a 90-day suspension of the majority of foreign aid has been enforced.
This assessment aims to scrutinize the planned allocation of USAID's substantial $30 billion 2025 budget. Questions regarding the agency's priorities arose significantly during discussions among lawmakers.
The allocation of USAID funds has sparked a contentious debate among legislators. Notably, the agency recently awarded $30 million to the Wits Health Consortium in South Africa to further HIV research, focusing on key populations like sex workers and transgender individuals.
Furthermore, USAID allocated $38 million to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the Chinese laboratory at the heart of many discussions regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Concerns have also surfaced concerning initiatives aimed at supporting LGBTQI+ communities abroad. The organization 'Grupa Izadji' in Serbia received $1.5 million from USAID aimed at promoting economic empowerment for the LGBTQI+ community and minimizing workplace discrimination.
Among several other controversial funding decisions was a $2.5 million investment in an electric vehicle program in Vietnam. This program resulted in the construction of merely one battery station.
USAID has funded various initiatives globally. In Vietnam, the agency helped establish the TransCare Clinic, intending to close gaps in health care access for transgender individuals. Launched in 2023, USAID's LGBTQI+ policy aims to foster global recognition and protection of human rights for LGBTQI+ individuals.
In an unusual allocation of funds by the State Department, $25,000 was dedicated to a transgender opera project in Colombia. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast critiqued the funding decision, drawing attention to the seemingly disparate priorities amidst numerous pressing global challenges.
Additional initiatives have sparked further debate, such as a program supporting a Peruvian comic book centered around transgender characters.
This program received $32,000 under the approval of then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Chairman Mast alluded to this project in discussions, noting its controversial nature.
Another notable USAID initiative involved half a million dollars spent promoting atheism in Nepal, a decision that sparked further debate regarding the agency's spending focus. Concerns continue to mount over spending that some legislators perceive as misaligned with national interests.
As the plans to dissolve USAID move forward, Marco Rubio in his temporary leadership role, will be overseeing the reevaluation of ongoing and planned projects. The process aims to realign the spending with what the administration considers fundamental U.S. objectives.
