Gaetz Introduces Bill To Abolish USAID For Pushing ‘Wokeism’ Overseas
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has introduced legislation that would abolish the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) — citing concerns over the agency using taxpayer funds to push “leftist activism” and “wokeism” abroad.
After introducing the bill in the House on Tuesday, Gaetz sent out a press release citing a Heritage Foundation report from last year that revealed USAID has been using Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars to fund “leftist activism” overseas.
Gaetz’s legislation would bar federal funds from being “made available” to the agency, forcing it to cease carrying out its delegated responsibilities.
“American taxpayer dollars are being wasted to fund radical leftist propaganda in foreign countries,” the press release read. “The American people will not tolerate government-funded degeneracy at home, and we certainly will not accept its force-feeding abroad under Old Glory.”
“USAID does not serve a meaningful purpose,” the press release continued. “It is used as a slush fund for international wokeism. Therefore, serious lawmakers in Congress should support its complete abolition.”
Gaetz went on to note that the measure would also “rescind the unobligated funds made available for the agency and transfer all other assets or liabilities to the Secretary of State.”
The legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Eli Crane (R-AZ) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL).
In the bill, Gaetz cites numerous examples of the agency pushing “leftist ideology” — including accusing USAID of interfering in foreign elections.
“USAID meddles in local elections, promoting the interests of ‘women, youth, and other traditionally marginalized groups’ ahead of the interests of the other nations’ citizenry,” the text of the bill states.
The bill also asserts that the agency undermines “foreign governments who do not adhere to the perverse ideology [USAID] espouses.”
USAID has also used American taxpayer funds to provide grants to a variety of bizarre and vague far-left causes — including $850,000 to “the rights of gender diverse people” in Bangladesh, one million dollars for “LGBTI human rights advocacy in Asia” and $370,000 for ‘‘the human rights of LGBTI people in Armenian society,” according to Gaetz’s bill.
“The United States, in dealings with allies and adversaries, should engage in diplomacy and international relations that do not undermine the culture or tradition of other nations and peoples, but instead seek to develop working and friendly relationships relative to the interests of both parties with United States citizens chiefly in mind,” the bill states.
A report from The Daily Wire in April revealed that USAID planned to partner with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation while contributing up to $50 million in taxpayer funds to promote “digital gender equality” in Africa and around the world.
Gaetz shared a Daily Caller article about his legislation on Twitter on Monday, writing: “I found a way to cut spending.”
The conservative firebrand has been making headlines throughout the past few years for pushing back against the Biden administration and the overreach of the federal government — including against establishment players within his own party. Gaetz has called to abolish the IRS, FBI, Department of Justice (DOJ) and even the CDC.
He is also a member of the newly created House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government — where he has continued to investigate the Biden administration’s politicization and weaponization of federal agencies against American citizens.
