The Trump administration is revamping the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) amidst allegations of corruption.
Just The News reported that former USAID executive Mark Moyar has accused the agency of entrenched corruption and ideological bias, prompting a substantial administrative overhaul.
Mark Moyar, who previously oversaw the Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation, has been vocal about the difficulties he faced during his tenure under the first Trump administration.
He highlighted issues with transparency and the withholding of information within USAID. Moyar's concerns have accelerated efforts by the current administration to address these issues comprehensively.
According to Moyar, the agency's operations have long suffered from a lack of scrutiny regarding its spending and project outcomes. This opacity, he suggests, has enabled corrupt practices to prosper unchecked.
"We've seen in the news, that Congress can't get information from them. The bureaucrat is very good at hiding things, so it’s not until this drastic effort to shut things down that we have access," Moyar stated.
The overhaul initiated by President Trump's administration during its second term includes a significant reduction of USAID's workforce.
The plan is to decrease the agency's size by thousands of employees in an attempt to streamline operations and enhance accountability. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed as acting director during this pivotal transition.
The scope of the overhaul extends to examining various USAID-funded programs. Initiatives such as providing contraceptives in Afghanistan and supporting LGBT diversity programs in Europe are currently on hold and under review. This pause is part of a broader assessment aimed at ensuring these programs align with the national interest and are managed effectively.
One notable concern raised by Moyar involves funding tied to George Soros' networks, which has been controversial.
The Trump administration is scrutinizing these connections closely, reflecting ongoing debates about the political implications of foreign aid. "There certainly is a lot of money going through that ends up in the hands of NGOs and the UN and contractors," Moyar remarked, suggesting a partisan slant in the allocation of resources.
Moyar criticized the agency's support for programs he described as ideologically driven, particularly under the leadership of Samantha Power during the Biden administration.
These programs, according to Moyar, often promote divisive ideologies rather than fostering unity and concrete outcomes. "When you've got just millions and millions of dollars on these DEI consultants, which I think most people would question whether there's any value — in fact, probably it's causing more harm than good," he stated.
Amidst these sweeping changes, the General Services Administration has also terminated the lease for USAID's headquarters in Washington, D.C. This move symbolizes a literal and figurative shift in the agency's operations, aligning with broader efforts to reorient its mission and management practices.
Dissatisfaction with past reform attempts during the first Trump administration has led to a more aggressive approach this term.
Moyar acknowledged previous setbacks, citing conflicts of interest among Trump appointees as a significant obstacle. "We had a very senior Trump appointee who was married to the top lobbyist for the aid industry, which was a big problem," he explained, assuring that such conflicts are being addressed in the current overhaul.
The administration's efforts are not limited to internal restructuring. The dismissal of nearly 20 inspectors general across various federal agencies signifies a broader intent to revamp federal oversight.
This unprecedented move underscores the administration's commitment to eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse government-wide, with a particular focus on foreign aid.
Moyar projects that these changes will unveil previously hidden cases of corruption within USAID. "And so I think we're going to see, in the weeks ahead, we're going to find out about a lot of corruption we didn't even know about — a lot of waste, fraud, and abuse," he predicted.
Moreover, he believes that the current investigation and restructuring will lead to a more focused and financially prudent USAID.
As the Trump administration continues to push forward with its agenda to reshape USAID, all eyes will be on the outcomes of these bold initiatives. The success or failure of these reforms will likely have lasting implications for the role of the United States in global humanitarian efforts and development aid.