Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), threatened criminal referrals during a heated hearing on foreign aid spending Wednesday.
Key Takeaways:
- Greene accused USAID of funding terrorism and aiding Democratic campaigns.
- Witnesses alleged USAID lacks oversight and may have engaged in criminal activity.
- The hearing revisited GOP claims that Biden used USAID to protect Hunter Biden.
- Greene suggested USAID is a tool for pushing a “globalist agenda” and regime changes.
- Democrats push back, arguing cuts to USAID would harm international progress.
Greene’s remarks signal a potential GOP-led push to investigate USAID’s funding and foreign operations.
Greene Accuses USAID of Corruption, Suggests Criminal Referrals
During the hearing, Greene repeatedly suggested USAID was engaged in misconduct, arguing that U.S. taxpayer dollars were being misused to support Democratic interests abroad.
Greene’s Opening Statement:
“The Democrat-run USAID should not get to use our federal government, our U.S. taxpayer dollars, as their party piggy bank to push their radical agenda in countries that we have no business giving money to.”
She suggested that USAID funding may have influenced U.S. elections, calling for investigations into whether money was funneled back into Democratic campaigns.
Greene later asked:
“Maybe we should consider investigating whether USAID funding has made it back to Democrat campaigns? Has it affected elections?”
Witnesses Claim USAID Lacks Oversight and May Have Funded Terrorism
Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, testified:
- USAID funding has been mismanaged and may have gone to terrorist groups.
- The agency lacks sufficient oversight to prevent money from being misused.
- He urged Congress to refer criminal cases to the Department of Justice.
Roman’s statement:
“This committee should take action to ensure that the Department of Justice acts on it and does everything [in] Congress’s power to not just investigate but refer criminal actions to the proper authorities.”
Greene echoed this sentiment, stating that if USAID funding contributed to terrorism and American deaths, the committee would push for criminal referrals.
Greene’s closing remarks:
“If USAID funded terrorism that resulted in the death of Americans, then this committee will be making criminal referrals.”
Greene Revives Hunter Biden Allegations Tied to USAID Funding
Greene also repeated GOP accusations that President Biden misused USAID to protect his son, Hunter Biden.
She claimed:
“Is USAID supposed to be used as leverage by a president to protect his son?”
She pointed to Biden’s role in the removal of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, alleging that:
- Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in USAID funds if Shokin wasn’t fired.
- Shokin was investigating Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden served on the board.
Counterpoint:
- While Biden did call for Shokin’s removal, Shokin was not actively investigating Burisma at the time.
- The international community widely supported Shokin’s ousting due to corruption allegations.
Despite these facts, Greene’s remarks reflect the GOP’s ongoing effort to link USAID to corruption involving the Biden family.
Democrats Push Back Against USAID Cuts and Accusations
Democrats strongly oppose cutting USAID funding, arguing that:
- USAID plays a crucial role in global stability and humanitarian efforts.
- Reducing foreign aid would roll back progress in economic development, healthcare, and democracy-building abroad.
- The GOP’s accusations are politically motivated and lack hard evidence.
Democrats warn that limiting USAID’s reach could weaken U.S. influence and global leadership.
