Before the Trump administration made changes, USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development, often sent funds to groups connected to George Soros’ nonprofit network, as well as to causes like terrorism and LGBTQ+ programs. Under the new administration, USAID came under fire for not being transparent about its funding and for not following the Trump administration’s policies. There were concerns that the agency wasn’t aligning its programs with U.S. interests and government directives.
The Trump administration pointed out several programs that needed reevaluation, such as funding for contraceptives in Afghanistan and diversity initiatives in European countries. One key concern was that USAID sent millions of dollars to groups connected to George Soros, like the East-West Management Institute, which worked on projects in countries like Georgia, Uganda, and Serbia. Some of these projects, particularly in Albania and Macedonia, faced criticism for pushing progressive political agendas.
USAID also funded other Soros-backed organizations like the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine, which had strong opinions against Ukraine’s previous government, aligning with U.S. State Department policies at the time. Soros’ Open Society Foundations did not comment on these reports.
The Trump administration also pointed to several controversial USAID projects. These included $1.5 million for diversity programs in Serbia, $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru, and $70,000 for a musical in Ireland promoting diversity. Other troubling examples included $15 million for condoms sent to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and over $3 million for LGBTQ+ initiatives in the Caribbean.
Additionally, a government watchdog revealed that USAID failed to properly vet the groups it funded, allowing billions of taxpayer dollars to go to questionable organizations. One example involved a Syrian organization that misused over $9 million of USAID aid, diverting it to a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda.
The agency also faced issues in places like Ethiopia, where food aid was stolen and sent to armies involved in the Tigray conflict. This was a major concern as USAID continued to fund programs in conflict zones without full oversight, putting U.S. taxpayer dollars at risk.
