U.S. Congressman Scott Perry has accused the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
During a hearing on Thursday, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, criticized the misuse of taxpayer funds.
He claimed that USAID was contributing to terrorism by funding groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram, with a particular focus on the $697 million it allegedly allocates annually, along with cash shipments to extremist organizations and terrorist training camps.
Perry also raised concerns about USAID’s funding of a $136 million project for 120 schools in Pakistan, claiming there was no evidence the schools had been built.
He pointed to reports from the Inspector General that showed discrepancies in the allocation of funds, highlighting a program for women in Afghanistan that Perry argued was ineffective given the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights.
In addition, Perry criticized USAID’s spending in Pakistan on educational initiatives, alleging that millions of dollars were wasted on non-existent schools and programs, further accusing the agency of supporting terrorism.
This criticism comes amid broader calls to shut down USAID, with former President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk also denouncing the agency.
Trump has previously called for USAID’s closure, accusing it of corruption, while Musk has described it as a “viper’s nest” and criticized its operations, including claims of rogue activities and funding bioweapon research.
