President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk are facing strong criticism for their efforts to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Protests and debates erupt as Trump's administration pushes to eliminate or significantly reduce USAID's funding, citing accusations of waste and inefficiency.
President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk are facing significant backlash for their attempts to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ). Demonstrators and lawmakers rallied on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, to protest the move. Trump 's administration has been pushing to eliminate or significantly reduce funding for USAID , arguing that the agency is wasteful and inefficient.
They have also accused USAID of promoting leftist ideologies, particularly in its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These claims have been amplified on social media, where false and misleading information is being spread to support the dismantling of USAID. Many of these posts, originating from the administration and Elon Musk, question the funding of specific projects and organizations, alleging without evidence that the money was used inappropriately. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted specific examples during a press briefing on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, claiming that USAID had spent millions of dollars on DEI initiatives in countries like Serbia, Ireland, Colombia, and Peru. Leavitt cited examples such as a $1.5 million grant for DEI promotion in Serbian workplaces, $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland, $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia, and $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru. These claims quickly spread on social media, fueling the narrative of USAID's alleged misuse of funds. However, investigations revealed that the information presented by Leavitt was misleading and lacked context. The $70,884 grant awarded to an Irish company for a musical event promoting shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility was actually awarded by the State Department's Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, not USAID. Similarly, the grants for the opera in Colombia and the comic book in Peru were also awarded by the State Department, not USAID.
USAID Trump Musk Federal Government Foreign Aid Dismantling DEI Protest Backlash Misinformation
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