Senate Review of USAID Spending Amid Controversy

Senator Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho and the President of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has expressed that a comprehensive evaluation of spending by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is warranted. This scrutiny seems to align with efforts by the Trump administration to restructure the agency.

Originally, USAID operated as an independent body aimed at providing support to developing nations. However, a shift occurred in February when former President Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to oversee the agency, in part due to concerns that USAID wasn’t aligning with U.S. interests. Since then, significant layoffs have taken place, with USAID being integrated within the State Department.

Risch pointed out that the enhanced oversight on USAID’s expenditures is an effective response to what he sees as a need for more accountability.

“The amount we’re spending needs a top-to-bottom review,” Risch told an audience at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

In discussions about specific programs, he highlighted how, weeks after the administration’s changes, he, along with Rubio, scrutinized a list of initiatives that included $3 million earmarked to “promote democracy in the lower sphere.” Risch argued that such vague descriptions lack adequate detail and suggested that the total funding should be reviewed, potentially amounting to billions.

Interestingly, the term “Lower Slobbovia” is often used informally in the U.S. to represent underdeveloped countries.

“We can do better—not just in how much we spend, but in how it’s allocated,” Risch stated. He emphasized that cutting certain programs shouldn’t be mistaken for abandoning commitments to human rights, asserting that “America leads human rights.”

The Department of Efficiency (DOGE) has set its sights on USAID, aiming to eliminate wasteful spending. Criticism has been directed at various funding choices, including a $1.5 million project targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia, and a $70,000 grant for a “DEI musical” in Ireland.

Furthermore, Rubio announced in March that the State Department had completed a review that led to the cancellation of over 80% of USAID’s programs.

In late March, it became apparent that the State Department would absorb remaining USAID operations and that it would no longer function as an independent agency. This restructuring is expected to result in significant staffing reductions while prioritizing crucial foreign aid initiatives, according to a memo from the State Department.

Rubio remarked that delivering foreign aid effectively could help bolster borders and strengthen partnerships with key allies, criticizing USAID for deviating from its initial purpose, which he claims diminished its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, the restructuring has faced pushback from Democrats, who describe the changes as “illegal.” Representative Gregory Meeks, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the dismantling of USAID goes against national security interests and violates the established laws that designate it as an independent entity, emphasizing that only Congress holds the authority to eliminate it.