In a heated press briefing, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of misusing public funds, calling the agency’s spending “fraud, waste and abuse.” Leavitt’s comments come after revelations that USAID has allocated large sums to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives abroad, including LGBTQ+-themed projects.
Leavitt highlighted several USAID-funded projects that he called frivolous and disconnected from the interests of American taxpayers:
$1.5 million to promote DEI in Serbian workplaces
$70,000 for DEI-themed musical in Ireland
$47,000 for a transgender work in Colombia
$32,000 for a transgender comic in Peru
“I don’t know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don’t want my money to go toward funding this garbage,” Leavitt said, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to eliminating unnecessary federal spending.
Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has been tapped by President Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at identifying and reducing wasteful government spending. Musk has been a vocal critic of USAID, calling it a “criminal organization” and advocating its dissolution.
The ongoing DOGE inspection has reportedly led some USAID employees to remove rainbow flags and certain literature from their offices in anticipation of inspections, highlighting tensions within the agency.
The controversy has sparked a broader debate about the role of federal agencies in funding international DEI initiatives. While the administration champions fiscal responsibility and alignment with taxpayer priorities, critics see these actions as an invasion that undermines support for marginalized communities globally.
As the administration prepares to review USAID funding and consider restructuring its operations, the debate over the use of public funds for international DEI programs remains a contentious issue in the political arena.
