Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst appeared Monday on Newsmax to say that members of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have obstructed and even threatened her efforts to oversee how it distributes money.
During an appearance on “The Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Ernst talked about her past problems with USAID and complained about a lack of transparency in how its funds are distributed. Funds, she said, often do not go toward their initially intended purposes. This alleged redirection of funds prompted Ernst to question USAID about its operational practices, a move she said was met with resistance and even threats.
“We do know that there are good programs that have existed out there that have benefited the stability of many regions around the world, which, in turn, benefits the United States of America. But unfortunately, we have seen those at the top again that have really tried to stop members of Congress from understanding how our taxpayer dollars are flowing through the agency,” Ernst said.
The senator said her concerns escalated to the point where she, alongside Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul, initiated a formal investigation into USAID’s activities.
“We know in the example of Ukraine — and this is what I was very focused on — is the humanitarian aid wasn’t getting distributed to humanitarian aid contractors. Instead, it was being sent to the United Nations, where we have absolutely no idea where that money is going from that point forward. So we tried to call the question on USAID, and, again, they threatened us, they stonewalled us, until I was able to join forces with Congressman Mike McCaul and announce a formal investigation of the agency,” Ernst said. “And then, even they slow walked providing any data to us.”
Ernst also discussed what she said were the geopolitical implications of neglecting foreign aid, specifically in regions like Africa.
“Scrutinizing the dollars that are flowing through that agency is very important, because, yes, I would rather see immunizations go to children in Africa. I would rather see us feeding impoverished nations. But we need to know that those dollars are doing it and not going to fund terrorist organizations, not going to support a gender ideology in certain regions. We have to know that it’s going for a specific goal that is approved by Congress and, unfortunately, USAID has abused this system,” Ernst said.
President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency Chair Elon Musk initiated the dismantling of USAID, with plans to merge its functions into the State Department. Musk said in an early Monday X Spaces discussion that he and Trump decided to close USAID. The Trump administration directed the agency’s staff to telecommute, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepping in as the acting director and criticizing the agency’s operations as akin to a “global charity.”
In response to this move to shut down USAID, Democratic lawmakers are contemplating using their minority status to obstruct Trump’s agenda. They said they plan to leverage their votes on government funding and delay confirmations for Trump’s nominees, as revealed in several press conferences on Monday.
“We are pursuing every action that we think we can do,” Democratic Washington Sen. Patty Murray said during a press conference Monday afternoon. “But I will tell you this: we are here to pull the fire alarm. We are pulling the fire alarm.”
Trump, during a news conference Monday in the Oval Office, said the USAID merger with the State Department should have been done a long time ago.
“[USAID] went crazy during the Biden administration,” Trump said. “They went totally crazy [with] what they were doing and the money they were giving to people that shouldn’t be getting [it].”
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Newsmax)
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