Latest news with #Viper'sNest
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Designated terrorists': Extremist groups raked in millions from USAID, multiyear study reveals
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided millions of dollars in funding to extremist groups tied to designated terrorist organizations and their allies, according to a report published by Middle East Forum, a U.S. think tank. "The Middle East Forum's multi-year study of USAID and State Department spending has uncovered $164 million of approved grants to radical organizations, with at least $122 million going to groups aligned with designated terrorists and their supporters," the conservative think tank wrote in its report published Feb. 4. "Billions more of federal dollars have been given to leading American aid charities which have consistently failed to vet their terror-tied local partners, and show little interest in improving their practices, to the apparent indifference of the federal government." The Middle East Forum's report focuses specifically on funds from USAID and the State Department that wound up in the hands of radical groups and organizations tied to terrorism. Usaid Employee Says Staffers Hid Pride Flags, 'Incriminating' Books When Doge Arrived Rubio Pauses Foreign Aid From State Department And Usaid To Ensure It Puts 'America First' Read On The Fox News App The think tank reported that among its top findings, USAID was found to have given more than $900,000 to a "Gaza-based terror charity" called Bayader Association for Environment and Development. The funding began in 2016, and its most recent allocation was made just days before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Bayader describes itself as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that works "to build a civil society" on the Gaza Strip. "Founded in 2007, shortly after Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip, Bayader operates in close cooperation with the Hamas regime. Its 2021 annual report notes 'coordination' and 'meetings' with Hamas's Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture," the report found. 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim The funds were secured through other NGOs, such as Catholic Relief Services and medical groups. "But USAID coordinates directly with Bayader as well," according to the report. "USAID officials have praised Bayader's work on social media, and even visited Bayader's offices, where one senior USAID official, Jonathan Kamin, received an award from the terror-linked charity." The report also found that USAID approved a $12.5 million grant in 2024 to the American Near East Refugee Agency, which is also "a long-standing partner" of Bayader. The American Near East Refugee Agency is an NGO that was established in 1968 in an effort to assist refugees following the Arab-Israeli War. The report found staffers with the NGO have repeatedly and publicly posted "violent ideas, without apparent censure from top charity officials." The comments on social media posted by employees include: calling on God to "erase the Jews," expressing support for the "brave prisoners" in Israeli jails during the Hamas-Israel war, and describing Oct. 7, 2023, as a "beautiful morning." Sam Westrop, the director of the Middle East Forum's counter-extremism project, Islamist Watch, posted a highlight thread on X of the report's findings, describing the examples as "horrifying." "USAID won't even tell us how much they gave the Unlimited Friends Association, a Gaza terror charity which operates with help from Hamas. The head of the charity promises to 'cleanse' their land of 'impure Jews,'" Westrop posted in the thread of an example. Usaid Closes Hq To Staffers Monday As Musk Says Trump Supports Shutting Agency Down "USAID gave millions to Islamic Relief, whose Gaza branch openly works with senior terrorist officials in Gaza, including Hamas politburo member Ghazi Hamad. who promised that Hamas would repeat Oct 7 attacks 'time and again until Israel is annihilated,'" he posted in another example from the report. USAID funds totaling $125,000 were found in the hands of the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA) in 2015, despite the U.S. Treasury designating the group a global terrorist organization in 2004 due to its ties to Osama bin Laden. White House Flags Top Usaid Boondoggles Under Elon Musk's Microscope The report continued that USAID "undoubtedly knew of ISRA's terrorism activities. In 2010, the executive director of ISRA's U.S. branch (IARA-USA) and a board member pleaded guilty to money-laundering, theft of public funds, conspiracy, and several other charges. The plea was listed on USAID's own website," the report found. IARA-USA stands for the Islamic American Relief Agency. The funds were directed to ISRA via an evangelical charity called World Vision that works to provide clean water to areas of Sudan, according to the report. A World Vision official told Fox News Digital when asked about the report that the charity earned approval to work in Sudan "to help build a better world for the most vulnerable children and their families" and that it takes "compliance obligations seriously." "As soon as we became aware that a local partner, Islamic Relief Agency, might be on the list of organizations banned from transactions by the United States, we suspended the grant and asked the US Government to confirm its status," the official said. "We would never knowingly put those we serve or our staff at risk by working with a partner on the list of banned organizations. We exist to help build a better world for children and their families, serving in the name of Jesus Christ. We have no evidence that any of our funds have been used for anything other than urgent humanitarian work." "As a Christian humanitarian organization, we do not compromise our beliefs nor commitment to integrity as we work with governments throughout the world," the official said. "It is not easy to operate in fragile contexts, yet this is where the Lord is calling us. We remain committed to our vision of bringing life in all its fullness to vulnerable children around the world." Fox News Digital reached out to Bayader, the American Near East Refugee Agency and Catholic Relief Services but did not receive replies. USAID is under fire from the Trump administration as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its chair, Elon Musk, investigate the agency's spending practices and prepare to revamp and potentially shutter the agency. USAID is currently led by interim director Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agency announced on its website on Tuesday, Feb. 4, that nearly all personnel would be placed on leave by Friday, making a few exceptions for those in roles related to "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs." Its overseas missions reportedly also had been told to shut down. Lawmakers, news outlets and think tanks have dug into past reports related to USAID spending amid the apparent dismantling of the agency, finding countless examples of money channeled to questionable organizations or programs, such as creating a version of "Sesame Street" in Iraq or funding pottery classes in Morocco. USAID was established in 1961 under the Kennedy administration, operating as an independent agency that works closely with the State Department to allocate civilian foreign aid. Under Rubio, the agency could be abolished after its reorganization over the coming days, he said in a letter to bipartisan lawmakers on Feb. 3. "In consultation with Congress, USAID may move, reorganize, and integrate certain missions, bureaus, and offices into the Department of State, and the remainder of the Agency may be abolished consistent with applicable law," Rubio wrote. Musk, meanwhile, has posted on X that USAID is a "criminal organization" and that it is "time for it to die."Original article source: 'Designated terrorists': Extremist groups raked in millions from USAID, multiyear study reveals
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk outlines 'super obvious' changes DOGE and Treasury have agreed to make
Billionaire Elon Musk outlined a list of "super obvious" changes that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to make at the U.S. Treasury Department this weekend. Musk says officials at the treasury are working to make the government's books more simple to audit, as well as more accountability for where funds are going. The changes also require treasury employees to more frequently update the congressional "do not pay" list, which highlights fraudsters and illegal fronts. "Nobody in Treasury management cared enough before. I do want to credit the working level people in Treasury who have wanted to do this for many years, but have been stopped by prior management," Musk said. "Everything at Treasury was geared towards complain[t] minimization. People [who] receive money don't complain, but people who don't receive money (especially fraudsters) complain very loudly, so the fraud was allowed to continue," he added. Usaid Has 'Demonstrated Pattern Of Obstructionism,' Claims Top Doge Republican In Letter To Rubio "The above super obvious and necessary changes are being implemented by existing, long-time career government employees, not anyone from DOGE," Musk added. Read On The Fox News App "It is ridiculous that these changes didn't exist already! Yesterday, I was told that there are currently over $100B/year of entitlements payments to individuals with no SSN or even a temporary ID number," he continued. "If accurate, this is extremely suspicious. When I asked if anyone at Treasury had a rough guess for what percentage of that number is unequivocal and obvious fraud, the consensus in the room was about half, so $50B/year or $1B/week!! This is utterly insane and must be addressed immediately." Elon Musk's Doge Makes Another Hiring Push Musk's tirade toward the treasury department comes just after a federal judge blocked DOGE's ability to access treasury department systems. The Tesla CEO condemned the ruling as "insane" this weekend. 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim The Friday lawsuit, which was filed by 19 Democratic attorneys general, claimed Musk's team violated the law by being given "full access" to the Treasury's payment systems. The systems include information about Americans' Social Security, Medicare and veterans' benefits, tax refund information and more. The lawsuit was filed in New York by the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who wrote that President Donald Trump "does not have the power to give away Americans' private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed support for Musk and DOGE in the past, recently saying that the U.S. "doesn't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem." "At the Treasury, our payment system is not being touched," Bessent said in a "Kudlow" interview on Wednesday. "We process 1.3 billion payments a year. There is a study being done — can we have more accountability, more accuracy, more traceability that the money is going where it is?"Original article source: Elon Musk outlines 'super obvious' changes DOGE and Treasury have agreed to make
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Elon Musk slams 'mean' podcast hosts for calling DOGE employees 'arrogant little pr---s' among other things
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk slammed podcast hosts and frequent CNN "experts" Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway via X Saturday, claiming the pair are "cruel, mean and deceitful human beings" who are "threatening" young DOGE professionals. Tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU professor Scott Galloway, who host the podcast "Pivot," said in a recent episode they want to see Democratic governors arrest DOGE employees, claiming the team is attempting a coup. While acknowledging DOGE has the authority to conduct actions ordered by President Donald Trump, Swisher said she didn't like that the team included many young professionals, whom she called "children" and "arrogant little pr---s." Usaid Has 'Demonstrated Pattern Of Obstructionism,' Claims Top Doge Republican In Letter To Rubio "These idiots, these children, these arrogant little pr---s - come in and say, 'We're going to call the federal marshals, or the President has ordered you to step aside," Swisher said of DOGE sweeping into more than a dozen federal agencies. DOGE was launched to root out wasteful spending in the government and has nearly closed the entire U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Read On The Fox News App Galloway added he wanted to know the names of the employees so Democratic governors could do "everything in [their] power" to "put them in prison." 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim "I think what [they are] doing is trespassing," Galloway told Swisher. "I think this is a coup. … Just because [an] insurrectionist was elected, I don't believe this is legal. … I'm going to hold the people accountable who are trespassing and a part of a coup accountable." Democratic attorneys general from 19 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over DOGE access to sensitive, personal data belonging to Americans at the Treasury Department. New York Judge Paul Engelmayer issued an order barring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from giving DOGE access to the department's financial data. However, Galloway advised going "full gangster" and tracking down where the federal employees live. "Here are their names, here are their faces," Galloway said. "And we have contacted the local authorities where these kids live, these young adults, and we are going to hold them accountable." Musk wrote on X that Galloway and Swisher were "threatening talented, young software engineers." Elon Musk Dunks On Sen. Chuck Schumer, Declaring 'Hysterical Reactions' Demonstrate Doge's Importance He added the engineers "gave up high compensation for death threats" to help the American people. "Shame on Swisher & Galloway, cruel, mean & deceitful human beings that they are," Musk wrote. Over the last few weeks, CNN quoted Swisher multiple times discussing Musk. Headlines included, "'He's making trouble anywhere': Swisher on Musk feuding with world leaders"; "Kara Swisher has theory on why Musk is hiring young men to work at DOGE"; and "Swisher says Musk is bashing Trump's AI project because he's not part of it."Original article source: Elon Musk slams 'mean' podcast hosts for calling DOGE employees 'arrogant little pr---s' among other things
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad ‘corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
Vice President JD Vance slammed U.S. bureaucracy that has "corrupted" aid programs to foreign nations amid the Trump administration's investigation into USAID waste, directing his ire at a recent revelation that the government had funded a program to promote atheism — or disbelief in God or gods — in Nepal. "In recent years, too often has our nation's international engagement on religious liberty issues been corrupted and distorted to the point of absurdity," Vance, who is Catholic, said at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. "Think about it: How did America get to a point where we're sending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars abroad to NGOs that are dedicated to spreading atheism all over the globe? That is not what leadership on protecting the rights of the faithful looks like." Vance did not mention the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by name in his speech to the religious crowd and those working to advocate for religious liberty in the U.S. and around the world. The forum was held as USAID faces an apparent dismantling as Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pore over the agency's financial records to suss out government overspending and corruption. USAID's website was shut down in early February, replaced with a message on Tuesday evening outlining how "direct-hire personnel" will be placed on leave Friday, except those on "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs." 'Sesame Street In Iraq': Usaid's 'Wasteful And Dangerous' Spending Exposed By Senator Read On The Fox News App Vance's comment focusing on nongovernmental organizations using taxpayer funds to promote atheism around the globe is likely referring to a $500,000 grant solicited by the State Department in 2021, under the Biden administration. The grant hit the nation's radar in 2024, when Republican House lawmakers sounded the alarm that the State Department was participating in a "pattern of obfuscation and denial" related to efforts to promote atheism on the world stage. 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Brian Mast, R-Fla., wrote in a letter sent to then-State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Verma in May 2024: "We write to address what the Department has now acknowledged were its misrepresentations made to Congress about the scope and nature of programming that – for the first time in US diplomatic history – has sought to promote atheism overseas under the guise of 'religious freedom.'" The lawmakers were referring to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor grant for $500,000, titled "Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals." Fox News Digital reviewed an archived web link for the grant on Thursday, which detailed that the U.S. was working to "support Religious Freedom globally," including to "combat discrimination, harassment and abuses against atheist, humanist, non-practicing and non-affiliated individuals of all religious communities." The State Department's announcement for the grant reads: "DRL's goal is to ensure everyone enjoys religious freedom, including the freedom to dissent from religious belief and to not practice or adhere to a religion. By not adhering to a predominant religious tradition, many individuals face discrimination in employment, housing, in civil and criminal proceedings, and other areas especially in the context of intersectional identities." The grant was awarded to Humanists International, a UK-based group that works to promote secularism and humanism, a philosophy that does not include a belief in God. The State Department's funding announcement opportunity detailed how the program was expected to increase "capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations." Feds Spent Millions Studying Trans Menstruation, Strengthening Gay Rights In The Balkans, Database Reveals Fox News Digital reached out to Humanists International on Thursday morning regarding the grant and Vance's comments but did not immediately receive a reply. Gop Hardliners Rally Around Trump, Musk Scaling Back Usaid "But this administration is intent on not just restoring, but on expanding the achievements of the first four years, and certainly in the last two weeks," he continued. "And in this short period, the president has issued orders to end the weaponization of the federal government against religious Americans." "Pardon pro-life protesters who were unjustly imprisoned under the last administration," he said. "And importantly, stop the federal censorship used to prevent Americans from speaking their conscience and speaking their mind, whether it's in their communities or online." "Now, our administration believes we must stand for religious freedom, not just as a legal principle, as important as that is, but as a lived reality both within our own borders and especially outside," he continued. Flashback: Biden Admin Repeatedly Used Usaid To Push Abortion In Africa Vance's speech was followed by a virtual address from actor Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute in "The Office," to discuss his Baha'i faith and the persecution of fellow adherents in Iran. Government funding directed to left-wing initiatives through agencies such as USAID or the State Department has come under the microscope recently, as DOGE launched investigations to cut government fat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took over as acting director of USAID on Monday, telling the media that the agency needs to fall in line with Trump's "America First" policies, which includes using taxpayer funds to strengthen U.S. communities rather than sending cash overseas. Democrats have seethed over DOGE's work, holding protests outside government offices in Washington, D.C., and across the country to declare that they will fight the efforts tooth and nail. Usaid Employee Says Staffers Hid Pride Flags, 'Incriminating' Books When Doge Arrived "What we are witnessing here is the biggest heist in American history," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said on Tuesday during one rally. "This is the most corrupt bargain we've ever seen in American history: Elon Musk gives $250 million to elect Donald Trump, and Donald Trump turns over the keys to United States government to Elon Musk and his billionaire friends and his cronies," Van Hollen continued in his remarks outside the Treasury Department. "We have to fight this in the courts, we have to fight this in the Congress, we have to fight this in the streets. We need to fight this all over America." Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., added, "Shut down the city! We are at war!" Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said during a news interview of DOGE's work at USAID, "The level of disrespect actually is criminal, because there are crisis-response teams that are around the world that really rely on having access to their emails – having access to apps that they can utilize if there's danger to them." Protesters have slammed Musk as a "fascist" who was not elected to federal office yet holds sway with the White House in his role at DOGE. Musk trolled Democrats and government employees amid the protests on Wednesday when he changed his X bio to state that he is working as "White House Tech Support" as his DOGE team reviews the federal government's various computer article source: 'Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad 'corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad ‘corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
Vice President JD Vance slammed U.S. bureaucracy that has "corrupted" aid programs to foreign nations amid the Trump administration's investigation into USAID waste, directing his ire at a recent revelation that the government had funded a program to promote atheism — or disbelief in God or gods — in Nepal. "In recent years, too often has our nation's international engagement on religious liberty issues been corrupted and distorted to the point of absurdity," Vance, who is Catholic, said at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. "Think about it: How did America get to a point where we're sending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars abroad to NGOs that are dedicated to spreading atheism all over the globe? That is not what leadership on protecting the rights of the faithful looks like." Vance did not mention the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by name in his speech to the religious crowd and those working to advocate for religious liberty in the U.S. and around the world. The forum was held as USAID faces an apparent dismantling as Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pore over the agency's financial records to suss out government overspending and corruption. USAID's website was shut down in early February, replaced with a message on Tuesday evening outlining how "direct-hire personnel" will be placed on leave Friday, except those on "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs." 'Sesame Street In Iraq': Usaid's 'Wasteful And Dangerous' Spending Exposed By Senator Read On The Fox News App Vance's comment focusing on nongovernmental organizations using taxpayer funds to promote atheism around the globe is likely referring to a $500,000 grant solicited by the State Department in 2021, under the Biden administration. The grant hit the nation's radar in 2024, when Republican House lawmakers sounded the alarm that the State Department was participating in a "pattern of obfuscation and denial" related to efforts to promote atheism on the world stage. 'Viper's Nest': Usaid Accused Of Corruption, Mismanagement Long Before Trump Admin Took Aim Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Brian Mast, R-Fla., wrote in a letter sent to then-State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Verma in May 2024: "We write to address what the Department has now acknowledged were its misrepresentations made to Congress about the scope and nature of programming that – for the first time in US diplomatic history – has sought to promote atheism overseas under the guise of 'religious freedom.'" The lawmakers were referring to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor grant for $500,000, titled "Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals." Fox News Digital reviewed an archived web link for the grant on Thursday, which detailed that the U.S. was working to "support Religious Freedom globally," including to "combat discrimination, harassment and abuses against atheist, humanist, non-practicing and non-affiliated individuals of all religious communities." The State Department's announcement for the grant reads: "DRL's goal is to ensure everyone enjoys religious freedom, including the freedom to dissent from religious belief and to not practice or adhere to a religion. By not adhering to a predominant religious tradition, many individuals face discrimination in employment, housing, in civil and criminal proceedings, and other areas especially in the context of intersectional identities." The grant was awarded to Humanists International, a UK-based group that works to promote secularism and humanism, a philosophy that does not include a belief in God. The State Department's funding announcement opportunity detailed how the program was expected to increase "capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations." Feds Spent Millions Studying Trans Menstruation, Strengthening Gay Rights In The Balkans, Database Reveals Fox News Digital reached out to Humanists International on Thursday morning regarding the grant and Vance's comments but did not immediately receive a reply. Gop Hardliners Rally Around Trump, Musk Scaling Back Usaid "But this administration is intent on not just restoring, but on expanding the achievements of the first four years, and certainly in the last two weeks," he continued. "And in this short period, the president has issued orders to end the weaponization of the federal government against religious Americans." "Pardon pro-life protesters who were unjustly imprisoned under the last administration," he said. "And importantly, stop the federal censorship used to prevent Americans from speaking their conscience and speaking their mind, whether it's in their communities or online." "Now, our administration believes we must stand for religious freedom, not just as a legal principle, as important as that is, but as a lived reality both within our own borders and especially outside," he continued. Flashback: Biden Admin Repeatedly Used Usaid To Push Abortion In Africa Vance's speech was followed by a virtual address from actor Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute in "The Office," to discuss his Baha'i faith and the persecution of fellow adherents in Iran. Government funding directed to left-wing initiatives through agencies such as USAID or the State Department has come under the microscope recently, as DOGE launched investigations to cut government fat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took over as acting director of USAID on Monday, telling the media that the agency needs to fall in line with Trump's "America First" policies, which includes using taxpayer funds to strengthen U.S. communities rather than sending cash overseas. Democrats have seethed over DOGE's work, holding protests outside government offices in Washington, D.C., and across the country to declare that they will fight the efforts tooth and nail. Usaid Employee Says Staffers Hid Pride Flags, 'Incriminating' Books When Doge Arrived "What we are witnessing here is the biggest heist in American history," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said on Tuesday during one rally. "This is the most corrupt bargain we've ever seen in American history: Elon Musk gives $250 million to elect Donald Trump, and Donald Trump turns over the keys to United States government to Elon Musk and his billionaire friends and his cronies," Van Hollen continued in his remarks outside the Treasury Department. "We have to fight this in the courts, we have to fight this in the Congress, we have to fight this in the streets. We need to fight this all over America." Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., added, "Shut down the city! We are at war!" Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said during a news interview of DOGE's work at USAID, "The level of disrespect actually is criminal, because there are crisis-response teams that are around the world that really rely on having access to their emails – having access to apps that they can utilize if there's danger to them." Protesters have slammed Musk as a "fascist" who was not elected to federal office yet holds sway with the White House in his role at DOGE. Musk trolled Democrats and government employees amid the protests on Wednesday when he changed his X bio to state that he is working as "White House Tech Support" as his DOGE team reviews the federal government's various computer article source: 'Spreading atheism': Vance warns religious efforts abroad 'corrupted' by US bureaucracy amid USAID controversy
