Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, has made bold claims that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been involved in funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.
The accusations came during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, held on Thursday, which focused on government waste, improper payments, and fraud.
During the session titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” Perry criticized how U.S. taxpayer dollars were allegedly misused. He claimed that $697 million annually was being funneled into terrorist groups, including funds sent to Madrasas, ISIS Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram training camps.
"Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding," Perry stated during the hearing.
In addition to these allegations, Perry criticized USAID for spending $20 million on educational television programs for children in areas where schools do not even exist, implying that these funds were either misappropriated or redirected elsewhere.
The allegations against USAID align with former President Donald Trump's long-standing criticism of the agency. Trump has previously called for USAID’s closure, accusing it of corruption and wasteful spending.
The push to reduce USAID’s role has also been echoed by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who was appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has labeled USAID as "a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America", further accusing the agency of engaging in rogue CIA operations and even funding bioweapons research.
"This has got to end," Perry asserted, demanding a major overhaul in government spending and stricter controls on how taxpayer money is allocated for foreign aid.
Trump has stated that DOGE will "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies" as part of his "Save America" movement.
While Perry’s accusations have sparked widespread debate, USAID has not yet responded to the claims. Critics argue that foreign aid plays a crucial role in humanitarian efforts, counterterrorism operations, and diplomatic relations. However, Perry and other Republican leaders insist that funding must be re-evaluated to prevent potential misuse.
The hearing’s revelations have fueled further discussions in Washington, with many questioning whether USAID’s current operational model aligns with U.S. national security interests. With growing pressure from the Trump administration and Musk’s DOGE initiative, USAID now faces the possibility of budget cuts, structural reforms, or even complete dissolution in the near future.