Ever wondered where your tax dollars go after they leave your paycheck? Probably not to fix that pothole on your street or to secure our southern border. For decades, Washington bureaucrats have been funneling billions overseas with little oversight and even less accountability.

Remember when your parents told you to finish your dinner because “children are starving in Africa”? Well, the government took that concept and ran with it – except they forgot to check if the money was actually feeding anyone. Instead, they’ve been funding gender studies in Pakistan and teaching foreigners how to argue with internet trolls. Your tax dollars at work, America!

Rubio Takes Action

Secretary of State Marco Rubio dropped a bombshell Monday morning. After a six-week review, the Trump administration is officially canceling 83% of all programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

From ‘Breitbart’:
After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID. The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.”\

Rubio didn’t stop there. He announced that the remaining 17% of programs – approximately 1,000 contracts – will now be administered “more effectively under the State Department.” This marks one of the most significant reforms to foreign aid in decades.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

What exactly was USAID doing with your money? In fiscal year 2023 alone, the agency disbursed a whopping $72 billion worldwide. That’s billion with a “B” – money that could have rebuilt American infrastructure or strengthened our military.

Instead, it funded “gender-affirming health care in Guatemala.” Yes, really.

It paid for “teaching people in Kazakhstan to fight back against Internet trolls.” Because apparently, America’s most pressing national security interest is making sure people in Kazakhstan can win Twitter arguments.

It even spent your hard-earned dollars “creating work opportunities for young LGBTQI+ people in Serbia.” Meanwhile, American workers continue to struggle with inflation.

Perhaps most infuriating: American taxpayers have sent more than $3 billion to Mexico since 2008 supposedly to combat drug cartels. The result? The cartels have grown stronger, not weaker, and fentanyl continues to pour across our border.

Cleaning House

The cancellation comes after Trump placed USAID staffers on leave in February as part of a comprehensive review. This wasn’t just a budget trim – it was a complete overhaul of an agency that many conservatives have long viewed as wasteful.

Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had previously promised that USAID would be “fed into the wood chipper.” Following Rubio’s announcement, Musk responded: “Tough, but necessary. Good working with you. The important parts of USAID should always have been with Dept of State.”

The layoffs affected thousands of employees, with reports indicating that around 1,600 U.S.-based jobs were impacted. Construction crews even removed signage from USAID’s Washington headquarters in February – a visible symbol of the administration’s determination to reshape government.

The Expected Outrage

Predictably, the usual suspects are crying foul. Business Insider reported that “some constitutional law experts have said that shutting down USAID without congressional approval is illegal.” Reuters noted that humanitarian workers claimed funding “remained shut” despite the administration’s assurances that waivers were provided for life-saving aid.

What these critics miss is that the Trump administration isn’t eliminating all foreign aid – it’s making it accountable. The remaining programs will continue under State Department supervision, ensuring better alignment with America’s diplomatic and security objectives.

The 90-day pause on foreign aid was ordered on Trump’s first day back in office, fulfilling a campaign promise to review every dollar sent overseas. This isn’t reckless cutting – it’s responsible governance.

This is what America First looks like in action: prioritizing American interests, protecting taxpayer dollars, and demanding results. After decades of wasteful spending, it’s about time Washington remembered who they work for.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has canceled 83% of USAID programs (5,200 contracts) that weren’t serving American interests.
• USAID spent $72 billion in 2023 on questionable programs like gender-affirming care in Guatemala.
• The remaining 17% of programs will be managed by the State Department, ensuring better alignment with America’s diplomatic goals.

Sources: Breitbart, Business Insider, Reuters