Amid Dem Outrage About USAID, Ernst Sets Record Straight on Potentially Shuttered Agency
Before Monday, how many highly engaged Democrats online had even heard of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) or understood its role?
They probably still don’t fully grasp what it does — but news of its budget being frozen and headquarters shut down as of Monday, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, has quickly become one of the earliest controversies of the second Trump administration. One lawmaker went as far as calling the decision “what the beginning of dictatorship looks like.”
The future of USAID, which operated on a $44.7 billion budget in 2024, remains uncertain. Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are pushing for its elimination, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated he might integrate its functions into the Department of State.
Neither option sat well with Democratic lawmakers, who attempted to enter USAID’s headquarters on Monday but were denied access. Leading the charge was Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who pledged to challenge the administration in court to prevent them from “undoing USAID,” as reported by The Hill. Meanwhile, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar—always known for making dramatic statements—offered the now-viral “dictatorship” remark at what was a rather lackluster protest.
So, why the uproar? What exactly does USAID do?
An archived version of its now-inaccessible website provides an answer: “We work together with individuals, communities, and countries globally to improve everyday lives. USAID’s efforts provide humanitarian assistance, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, advance economic opportunities, and help achieve progress beyond programs. Our work benefits people around the world, including those in the United States. USAID’s investments help achieve sustainable development progress, advancing our collective security, health, and prosperity.”
That sounds both 1) impressive and 2) incredibly vague. So, what does the agency actually accomplish?
According to GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, that’s a crucial question—so important that she and another Republican lawmaker launched an investigation to get some transparency regarding its financial practices, as reported by the Daily Caller.
Speaking with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax on Monday, Ernst acknowledged that “there are good programs that have existed out there that have benefited the stability of many regions around the world.” However, she pointed out that significant sums of money remain unaccounted for.
“Unfortunately, we have seen those at the top again that have really tried to stop members of Congress from understanding how our taxpayer dollars are flowing through the agency,” Ernst said, referencing a formal investigation she and GOP Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas initiated last year.
She highlighted concerns about aid to Ukraine, explaining, “We know in the example of Ukraine — and this is what I was very focused on — is the humanitarian aid wasn’t getting distributed to humanitarian aid contractors. Instead, it was being sent to the United Nations, where we have absolutely no idea where that money is going from that point forward.”
She continued, “So we tried to call the question on USAID, and, again, they threatened us, they stonewalled us, until I was able to join forces with Congressman Mike McCaul and announce a formal investigation of the agency. And then, even they slow walked providing any data to us.”
While humanitarian aid is undoubtedly necessary in many parts of the world—such as Africa—Ernst stressed that Americans deserve assurance that their money is funding essential needs, not ideological agendas.
“I would rather see us feeding impoverished nations. But we need to know that those dollars are doing it and not going to fund terrorist organizations, not going to support a gender ideology in certain regions,” she stated. “We have to know that it’s going for a specific goal that is approved by Congress and, unfortunately, USAID has abused this system.”
Moreover, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed out that USAID has been funding questionable projects linked to progressive ideologies.
For instance, while Peru may have many pressing needs, a U.S.-funded transgender comic book is apparently among them—hardly a priority for American taxpayers.
The takeaway here is clear: The controversy isn’t about USAID being indispensable or its dissolution being tyrannical. What the Trump administration is pushing for is transparency. How much taxpayer money vanishes into bureaucratic inefficiency and lack of oversight?
The federal government has built complex bureaucratic layers that obscure accountability, making it nearly impossible for the average citizen to trace spending. It’s a bloated administrative structure designed to deflect scrutiny.
Historically, investigations and audits into government agencies yield little progress. But now, with funding freezes and the Department of Government Efficiency’s involvement, the pushback from establishment figures suggests a real challenge to Washington’s entrenched systems. If the response to USAID’s shutdown is any indication, the permanent D.C. class is rattled—and that, in itself, is telling.