Comer & Oversight Republicans: Taxpayer Aid is Potentially Falling into the Hands of Hamas and Terrorist Organizations
Call on USAID to provide documents and information on U.S. funding sent to Gaza and the West Bank
WASHINGTON – House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), and Oversight Committee Republicans are raising concerns over the Biden Administration’s plans to send hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer-funded humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank. In a letter to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, the lawmakers stress that taxpayer funds sent to Gaza and the West Bank could inadvertently aid Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) such as Hamas and are seeking documents and information from USAID to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are not financing terrorist organizations or other activities contrary to U.S. interests.
“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is conducting oversight of how the U.S. Agency for International Development assesses the risk of funding and other agency actions that may support activities contrary to U.S. interests. This includes assessments and controls for hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer-funded humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank and the risk that any of these funds could fall into the hands of or otherwise aid Foreign Terrorist Organizations such as Hamas,” said the lawmakers. “Public reports state that the Islamic Republic of Iran provides Hamas with direct funding, amounting to tens of millions annually. We also know that the Biden Administration dramatically increased funding to Gaza and the West Bank and on October 18th, he publicly announced an additional $100 million in U.S. aid to the area. It is vital to fully account for U.S. funds intended for humanitarian purposes to ensure they do not directly or indirectly fund terrorism. We request information to assist the Committee’s oversight.”
Prior to President Biden assuming office, funding administered by USAID to Gaza and the West Bank waned due to difficulties ensuring taxpayer funds did not end up in the hands of terrorists. According to records produced by the State Department in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the State Department was concerned in 2021 about U.S. assistance falling into the hands of Hamas. A March 2021 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed that USAID was not fully able to ensure that programming going to the West Bank and Gaza was not inadvertently reaching FTOs and affiliated individuals.
“The most recent atrocities committed by Hamas have resulted in significant and rising numbers of deaths and injuries, including dozens of American casualties and hostages. This episode underscores the critical importance of ensuring aid funds do not inadvertently increase financial support for terrorist activity. If U.S. taxpayer dollars are financing terrorist activity, the Biden Administration must cease such aid in order to protect Americans and our allies,” concluded the lawmakers.
Read the letter to USAID Administrator Power’s here.