"I can’t think of anything that’s harmed the developing world more than the climate agenda," Max Primorac, a top USAID official under President Donald Trump’s first administration, said when asked about U.S. AID programs that had run afoul of U.S. interests throughout the world. (Getty Images)
Primorac claimed that green energy infrastructure in developing countries "increases the price of energy."
According to Primorac, 19 of the top 20 countries receiving USAID are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, securing aid from the CCP in exchange for influence.
Primorac said that developing nations "want more trade, they want more investment," but "resentment" is building in conservative countries who don’t want "woke things."
The Trump administration, upon assuming office, instituted a 90-day pause on all foreign aid. Trump fired USAID's inspector general Paul Martin this week after he wrote a report claiming Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s efforts to dismantle USAID had prevented him from conducting oversight on unspent aid of up to $8.5 billion. Martin's report claimed that about $500 million worth of food aid is at risk of spoiling as it sits in ports while USAID staff in other nations have been called back and placed on leave.
USAID has now been placed under the purview of the State Department and is in the process of whittling down its staff from 10,000 to fewer than 300.
USAID INSPECTOR GENERAL FIRED DAYS AFTER PUBLISHING REPORT CRITICAL OF AID PAUSE
Primorac went on: "[USAID] has pushed all of these countries, especially in Africa, to go green. Solar, wind, EV: who produces all of those materials? It's China." (Getty Images)
But he noted that "woke" programs were a "small percentage" of the USAID budget, and the agency gives $1 billion per year to Christian NGOs.
Republicans claim there is a waiver process, but aid advocates have said NGOs and charities do not know how to apply for the waiver, and if they receive one, no one at USAID is operating the payment systems that dole out funds.
"I’ve met with these Christian groups, even though they have the waivers, the Phoenix system is not operating," said Natsios, referring to the agency’s financial program. "Please do something about it."
During the hearing, Republicans also pointed to USAID-funded NGOs that were conducting abortions, a program that sent millions of taxpayer dollars to dole out condoms in Afghanistan and Mozambique, $20 million for drag shows in Ecuador and $500,000 to promote atheism in Nepal.
"All of these programs gave USAID a black eye and that’s unfortunate," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, a former chairman of the committee who claimed USAID "blew through" his holds on their controversial programs.
Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast agreed. "When done right, foreign aid can be one of the best tools. It can help strengthen our relationships with our allies and help countries realize America is the best for them," he said.
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He promised that more aid oversight was to come.
"We are going to bring in individuals who were responsible for putting these horrible policies in place and reveal all the receipts, videos – all of it – for the American people to see."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/usaids-green-energy-programs-have-maximized-harm-developing-world-according-former-official