Scott Perry, a Republican lawmaker representing Pennsylvania, has made serious allegations against the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), claiming that it has been providing financial support to terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. This accusation came to light during a recent hearing held by the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.
The session was titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” and as reported by The Economist, Perry took the opportunity to express his deep concerns about the use of taxpayer money in ways that he believes are irresponsible and possibly dangerous.
During this hearing, Perry questioned the rationale behind the funding being allocated and who exactly benefits from these financial resources. He challenged the audience and officials present by asking, “Who benefits from that money? Does that name ring a bell?” He pointed out that a staggering amount of $697 million annually, accompanied by cash shipments directed towards Madrasas, effectively supports the operations of terrorist training camps associated with groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram. His comments highlighted his belief that the funding is inadequate and potentially harmful.
Perry’s criticism targeted specific examples of USAID’s financial allocations, particularly a reported $136 million earmarked for the construction of 120 schools in Pakistan. He asserted that there is “zero evidence” to suggest that these schools have been built or serve any educational purpose.
He emphasized the seriousness of his claims by stating, “You are funding terrorism through USAID, not just in Afghanistan but also in neighboring Pakistan.” Moreover, he pointed out that over the past two decades, USAID has invested an astronomical $840 million in educational programs in Pakistan. This includes the aforementioned $136 million allocated for schools that he claims do not exist.
Perry elaborated further, mentioning that despite this significant funding, the Inspector General has been unable to verify the existence of these purported schools. He expressed frustration over the continued expenditure of taxpayer money on initiatives that lack transparency and accountability.
He highlighted that there has also been an expenditure of $20 million directed towards educational television programs aimed at children who are unable to attend school, again emphasizing the irony that these children face barriers because the schools supposedly meant for them do not exist. He concluded by making it clear that taxpayers have unwittingly financed these unverified programs, stating emphatically, “You paid for it.”
