One of the primary talking points from the left/media regarding the spending freeze the Trump administration put on USAID after it was audited by the DOGE is how it has allegedly cut off potentially life-saving aid to other parts of the world.
Republicans have pushed back on that narrative, observing that USAID has proven to be little more than a slush fund for leftist causes overseas, as noted by Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt during a recent press briefing.
"1.5 million dollars to advance DEI in Serbia’s workplaces. $70,000 for a production of a DEI musical in Ireland. $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia. $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru,” Leavitt shared.
Nevertheless, Democrats have kept at it, suggesting USAID funding is needed for "humanitarian" situations worldwide.
"We're here today, not only to fight for federal employees who dedicate themselves every day to a humanitarian task. We are here to save lives, because that is what USAID does," Rep. Connolly (D-VA) proclaimed during a recent protest.
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On Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on what it called "the USAID Betrayal."
After its chairman, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), and its ranking member, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), each gave their opening statements, the hearing's first witness, Heritage Foundation Senior Research Fellow Max Primorac, geared up to give his as well when there was a disruption right behind him.
Protesters began unfurling banners and chanting "PEPFAR saves lives. Restore AIDS funding now" and continued to do so as they were being escorted out.
Mast didn't skip a beat, and had just a few short, sweet, simple, and to-the-point words for the protesters:
"I guess these guys don't watch the news. They didn't realize that PEPFAR was one of the many programs that did prove to be life-saving, so the funding was restored. Somebody better give them a link to, I don't know, maybe Fox News or something like that."
WATCH:
Protestors interrupt USAID Betrayal Hearing, hold up signs reading "Trump Kills People With AIDS Worldwide" and "PEPFAR saves lives."
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 13, 2025
REP. BRIAN MAST: "They didn't realize that PEPFAR was one of the many programs that did prove to be life saving. So the funding was restored." pic.twitter.com/wBiXwAknk6
PEPFAR, which was started in 2003, stands for "the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief," and DOGE leader Elon Musk indicated on the Twitter/X platform Wednesday that its funding was mostly preserved:
Funding for Ebola prevention and the parts of PEPFAR that appeared to be useful were not cut
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2025
Further, there are related waivers in place for other aid that is considered life-saving:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also created a wider exemption for "life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance," Congressional Republicans noted in a memo.
At the time of publication, the USAID hearing was still ongoing. To watch it, please click below:
📺 LIVE NOW: House Foreign Affairs Committee holds a hearing on the USAID BETRAYAL. https://t.co/Hk523a1Fek
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) February 13, 2025
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