NW Kentucky News

Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) opened a hearing titled “America Last: How Foreign Aid Undermined U.S. Interests Around the World.” In her statement, she criticized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for its alleged misuse of taxpayer funds during the Biden Administration.

Chairwoman Greene argued that USAID has been "weaponized and politicized" to undermine American interests globally. She accused the agency of funneling money to terrorists and supporting anti-democratic principles through what she described as a "left-wing slush fund."

She stated, "The Democrat-run USAID should not get to use our federal government—our U.S. taxpayer dollars—as their party piggy bank to push their radical agenda in countries that we have no business giving money to." According to Greene, 96% of political contributions from USAID employees go to Democratic candidates or PACs.

Greene highlighted that in FY2023, USAID disbursed approximately $44 billion across 160 countries. She noted that during President Biden's four-year term, 181 countries received about $240 billion in development aid, with Ukraine being the top recipient.

Greene questioned whether this foreign aid has led to a safer or more stable world or improved global perceptions of the United States. She claimed that some funds intended for humanitarian purposes were misused, such as relief meant for Afghanistan allegedly being diverted to the Taliban.

In closing her remarks, Greene praised former President Trump's efforts to realign foreign aid with American interests and indicated that her subcommittee would support these initiatives.