The Trump administration has taken aim at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), freezing all funding and placing thousands of workers on administrative leave. The administration claims that grants focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion represent waste and abuse. However, a review of federal funding data by Scripps News suggests that some of the administration's claims are exaggerated. Experts on foreign assistance argue that DEI spending at the agency is 'infinitesimal' and that halting these programs could harm U.S. interests abroad.
This week, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk , the world's richest man who leads the so-called Office of Government Efficiency, have targeted the U.S. Agency for International Development. Thousands of agency workers are being placed on administrative leave, and all funding has been frozen. The Trump administration claims that a range of grants focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion represent waste and abuse.
While some administration claims about the projects are accurate, others are exaggerated, according to a Scripps News review of federal funding data. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the agency's spending, citing examples such as '$70,000 for a production of a DEI musical in Ireland, $7,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia, and $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru.' 'I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap,' Leavitt said of the programs. According to USASpending.gov, a website that tracks federal grants, some of the administration's descriptions matched the projects, though the exact details were limited, and it's unclear if any of the examples Leavitt mentioned received funding from USAID or a different State Department program. Additionally, the administration's claim about the 'transgender opera' project was inaccurate; it actually received $25,000 from the federal government, significantly less than the Trump administration initially stated. Asked about the inconsistencies, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said President Trump was fulfilling his promise to reduce wasteful spending. 'This waste of taxpayer dollars underscores why the president paused foreign aid on day one to ensure it aligns with American interests,' she told Scripps News in a statement. Experts on foreign assistance argue that DEI spending at the agency is 'infinitesimal,' with USAID's $40 billion budget representing less than one percent of total federal spending, and the proportion of funds allocated to DEI causes being significantly less than that. 'You can say that, at most, tenth of one percent of U.S. assistance that has DEI built in it should be removed, and that's the right of a new administration,' said George Ingram, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who researches development policy. 'But it makes no sense for an administration to stop funding assistance and stop programs mid-career or mid-stream just to ferret out a few things they don't like.' According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, USAID funded programs in 130 countries in 2023. Now, almost all such projects are on hold – with most employees stationed overseas told to prepare to return to the U.S. within 30 days, according to a notice posted on the agency's website. Ingram also argues that the DEI programs the White House is targeting further U.S. interests abroad. 'Why are we spending money on programs around the world to bring women into the workplace to support women who in many countries are 80% of the people in the fields in agriculture?' he asked. 'Because if you don't bring women into the development space, you've missed out on half your population, and you're not going to have a prosperous, successful, developed country.
USAID Trump Administration Elon Musk Diversity Equity Inclusion Foreign Aid Wasteful Spending
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump administration memo tells USAID to put 'America First' in reviewing foreign aidTrump administration memo tells USAID to put 'America First' in reviewing foreign aid
Read more »
Trump Administration Places USAID Officials on Leave for Allegedly Circumventing Aid FreezeThe Trump administration placed several senior career officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave. The move follows allegations that they were not abiding by President Trump's executive order to freeze much of U.S. foreign aid. The USAID acting administrator stated that the agency identified actions that appeared to circumvent the President's order.
Read more »
Dozens of USAID Officials Placed on Leave Amid Trump Administration InvestigationThe Trump administration has placed dozens of senior officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave as part of an investigation into alleged resistance to President Trump's orders. The investigation follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decision to pause all U.S. foreign assistance funded by the State Department and USAID, citing a need to ensure that aid prioritizes 'America First'. This pause has halted thousands of U.S.-funded programs worldwide and forced aid organizations to lay off hundreds of employees.
Read more »
Trump Administration Suspends USAID Officials Amidst Foreign Aid FreezeThe Trump administration has placed several senior career officials at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave, alleging they violated President Trump's executive order to freeze most U.S. foreign aid. Acting USAID administrator Jason Gray sent a message to all staff stating that their actions appeared to circumvent the President's order, leading to the administrative leave. The move, which comes after a 'stop-work' order issued by the State Department, has raised concerns among global health experts and sparked uncertainty within the USAID workforce.
Read more »
Trump Administration Halts Supply of Life-Saving Drugs to USAID-Supported CountriesThe Trump administration has ordered a halt to the supply of essential medications for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as medical supplies for newborns, in countries receiving aid from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Contractors and partners working with USAID began receiving memos to cease operations immediately.
Read more »
USAID Lays Off Hundreds Amidst Trump Administration's Foreign Aid FreezeHundreds of contract employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were laid off following a stop-work order issued by the Trump administration for all foreign aid projects. The layoffs, affecting all departments within USAID, have raised concerns about the systematic dismantling of the agency and its ability to address global poverty, disease, and humanitarian needs.
Read more »