A group of protesters attempted to derail the USAID hearing at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, demanding that President Donald Trump's administration restore aid funds.
Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-FLA.
“Pepfer saves lives. We're restoring AIDS funding,” protesters chanted as they were kicked out of their rooms.
“I don't think these guys are watching the news. They didn't realize that the funds had recovered as PrepFar is one of many programs that have proven to save lives.” said Mast. “It would be better if someone gave them a link, I don't know, maybe Fox News etc.”
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Chairman Brain Mast suggested that protesters should read more news stories. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Pepfar is a global AIDS relief program that is believed to have saved more than 20 million lives since it was created under President George W. Bush.
The program received an exemption from the Trump administration to continue working despite a broader funding freeze affecting the USAID and the State Department's aid programs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said that “life-saving medicine, health services, food, shelters, self-sufficiency support and the supply and reasonable administrative costs necessary to provide such support.” It created a wider exemption. Note.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has exempted funding freezes, among other things, from the “lifesaving” program. (AP photo/Mark Sieferbein, pool)
However, Republicans have denounced widespread wasteful spending at the USAID and the State Department.
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The memo also highlighted fundraising programs such as “Chat a seminar at the $39,652 Edinburgh International Primary Festival.” Gender identity Racial equality through the State Department and “$425,622 to help Indonesian coffee companies become more climate- and gender-friendly through USAID.”
USAID is folded into the State Department. (Getty Images)
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Other priorities listed include “$14 million cash guarantee aircraft for immigration at cross-border tropical borders,” “$446,700 to promote the expansion of Nepal's atheism through the State Department,” $32,000 was included for a Peruvian LGBTQ-centric comic book. “
