Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced a bill on August 1 calling for the abolishment of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Mr. Gaetz said that USAID does not serve any meaningful purpose, and has called on lawmakers in Congress to support its dissolution.
“It is used as a slush fund for international wokeism,” he said in a statement. “Therefore, serious lawmakers in Congress should support its complete abolition.”
According to the organization’s website, the primary function of USAID is to engage in international humanitarian work and to reduce poverty worldwide.
According to a 2022 report (pdf) by The Heritage Foundation, however, “the Biden Administration weaponizes foreign aid programs to fund abortion, gender and identity ideology, and climate alarmism” around the world—and uses USAID to do so.
According to Gaetz’s bill (pdf), the agency fails to engage in diplomacy and the fostering of international relations consistent with American values, thus failing to act in the best interest of the United States or its people, or the interests of the foreign nations its purpose is to support.
The Bill
The bill is co-sponsored by other GOP representatives, including Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), and Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.).
“American taxpayer dollars are being wasted to fund radical leftist propaganda in foreign countries,” Mr. Gaetz said. “The American people will not tolerate government-funded degeneracy at home, and we certainly will not accept its force-feeding abroad under Old Glory.”
The bill states that USAID is being used to actively undermine foreign governments that do not adhere to the “perverse ideology” it advocates. “USAID uses United States tax dollars to push radical, leftist ideology abroad, going so far as to undermine foreign governments who do not adhere to the perverse ideology it espouses.”
The bill further states that “USAID meddles in local elections, promoting the interests of ‘women, youth, and other traditionally marginalized groups’ ahead of the interests of the other nations’ citizenry.”
The Heritage Foundation report states that the agency has collectively been using over $100 million of U.S. taxpayer money to advocate for abortion, gender equity programs, climate alarmism, and the promotion of LGBT initiatives across Africa and Asia.
The bill would effectively eliminate federal funding to the agency, while any assets or liabilities would be passed to the Secretary of State.
“The legislation will make no federal funds available for USAID to further carry out any of the functions, duties, or responsibilities assigned or delegated to the agency. The legislation will also rescind the unobligated funds made available for the agency and transfer all other assets or liabilities to the Secretary of State,” Gaetz said in his statement.
NTD has reached out to USAID for comment, but did not receive a reply before this article was published.