{"id":2190139,"date":"2024-03-01T12:11:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T17:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-blast-biden-administration-for-wiring-tax-dollars-to-terrorism-tied-group\/"},"modified":"2024-03-01T12:14:39","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T17:14:39","slug":"senate-republicans-blast-biden-administration-for-wiring-tax-dollars-to-terrorism-tied-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-blast-biden-administration-for-wiring-tax-dollars-to-terrorism-tied-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Republicans criticize Biden administration for funding terrorism-linked organization with taxpayer money"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-republicans-blast-biden-administration-for-wiring-tax-dollars-to-terrorism-tied-group%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2190139&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Republican Senators Slam Biden Administration for Funding Terrorism-Linked\u2062 Organization<\/h2>\n<p>Republican senators are \u2062expressing outrage\u200b over the Biden administration&#8217;s decision to award \u200bcash to a\u200b terrorism-linked organization, even after it came under investigation by a government watchdog. The controversy surrounds the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) granting $78,000 in October 2023 to Helping Hand for Relief \u200dand Development, a \u200bcharity with reported ties to terrorist groups.<\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers \u200chave long warned about the \u2063connections\u200b between Helping Hand \u2064for Relief and Development and Pakistan&#8217;s Falah-e-Insaniat,\u2064 an arm of the Lashkar-e-Taiba foreign terrorist group, as well as\u2062 Jamaat-e-Islami, an international Islamist\u2064 group responsible for genocide.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Senators Demand Answers<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;American taxpayer dollars should never be funneled \u2063into\u2063 the pockets of terrorists,&#8221; said Sen. \u200dJohn Barrasso (R-WY). &#8220;There needs to be an immediate inquiry to find out why the administration continued to provide more \u200dtaxpayer dollars to \u2064a group reportedly associating with terrorists.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Joni \u2064Ernst (R-IA) called it &#8220;unbelievable&#8221; that\u200d the Biden \u200dadministration &#8220;would double down on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/victims-of-terrorism-sue-biden-admin-for-sending-taxpayer-aid-to-palestinians\/\" title=\"Victims of Terrorism Sue Biden Admin for Sending Taxpayer Aid to Palestinians\">taxpayer-funded terrorism<\/a>.&#8221; She added, &#8220;It&#8217;s past time to clean up at USAID for their taxpayer waste. Not\u2063 another cent to terrorist sympathizers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The frustration among senators is \u200cnot new. House Foreign Affairs Committee \u2063Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) had previously \u2064asked USAID Administrator Samantha Power to suspend the 2021 grant to Helping Hand for \u2063Relief\u200d and Development due to &#8220;credible allegations&#8221; of its association with designated terrorist organizations. The recent 2023 \u200cgrant has provided an opportunity\u2064 for more oversight into \u2063the federal grants\u2062 system, which has been a source of ongoing concern for\u2064 the GOP-led panel.<\/p>\n<p>Helping Hand for Relief and Development, founded in\u200b 2005, describes itself as a global humanitarian relief and development organization. However, its\u200d ties to Jamaat-e-Islami have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-interior-secy-nominee-deb-haaland-sparks-fears-over-radical-left-wing-climate-policies\/\" title=\"Biden Interior secy. nominee Deb Haaland sparks fears over radical left-wing climate policies\">raised red flags<\/a> among House Republicans, as the organization \u2063has been accused \u200cof funding Hamas.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Senators Demand \u2062Accountability<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;Under no\u200d circumstances should taxpayer dollars go to organizations that sympathize with terrorist groups,&#8221; stated Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). He called on \u2064the Biden administration to provide\u200d transparency \u2062and accountability regarding the funding of Helping Hand for Relief \u200band Development.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) took to\u200b social \u2062media \u2064to express her \u2062concerns, stating, &#8220;We can never fund \u200cterrorism in the United States of America.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Spokespersons for other Republican senators, including Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), echoed the sentiment that funding organizations with ties\u2062 to terrorist groups is \u200bunacceptable. \u200cThey called for investigations and legislative\u200c action to \u200cprevent such decisions in the future.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy surrounding the Biden administration&#8217;s funding of Helping Hand for Relief and Development highlights the need for\u2064 greater \u2064scrutiny and accountability \u200bin\u200c the allocation of taxpayer dollars.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What measures will be \u200btaken to strengthen oversight and accountability in the allocation of foreign aid \u2063to\u200d prevent taxpayer money from inadvertently supporting terrorist activities<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Funded support \u2063for an organization \u2063with ties \u200cto terrorism.&#8221; Ernst added, &#8220;We must hold the administration accountable for their reckless and dangerous actions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The demand for\u2064 answers\u2063 comes after a \u200breport from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) highlighted the potential funding of terrorist-linked organizations \u200bby USAID. The watchdog found\u200c that USAID had awarded contracts to NGOs without adequate vetting procedures, \u200dallowing \u200cfunds to potentially flow to terrorist groups.<\/p>\n<p>In response to\u200c the criticism, the Biden administration has defended its decision to provide funding to Helping Hand for Relief \u200dand Development. They argue that the organization has undergone rigorous vetting and\u200b that the funding is strictly earmarked \u2064for humanitarian purposes.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We take any allegations of funding terrorist\u200d organizations\u200c seriously and have robust \u2063procedures in place to ensure that taxpayer money is allocated \u200cresponsibly,&#8221; said White House Press Secretary \u200dJen Psaki in a briefing. &#8220;USAID has conducted a thorough review of Helping Hand for \u2062Relief \u200dand Development and has found no evidence of misconduct or ties to\u2064 terrorist groups.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Psaki further emphasized the\u2062 importance of providing humanitarian aid\u2064 to \u2064those in need, especially in war-torn regions. She stated, &#8220;It is crucial that we continue\u2062 to support organizations that provide assistance and relief to vulnerable populations, while also maintaining strong \u200doversight and accountability measures.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, Republican senators remain unconvinced by the\u2064 administration&#8217;s justification. They argue that the SIGAR report\u2064 raises serious concerns about the vetting process and the potential for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-house-members-investigate-following-report-of-amtraks-lavish-bonuses\/\" title=\"GOP House Members Investigate Following Report Of Amtrak\u2019s \u2018Lavish\u2019 Bonuses\">taxpayer-funded support<\/a> to end up \u200cin the wrong hands.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The SIGAR report clearly shows that there are flaws in the system that allowed funding to reach terrorist-linked groups,&#8221; said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). &#8220;We cannot turn a\u200d blind eye to\u2062 the risks associated with negligence in\u2063 funding decisions. The administration must be held accountable for \u200ctheir failures.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As the\u200d controversy unfolds, lawmakers are calling for an immediate investigation into USAID&#8217;s funding practices. They are demanding transparency and accountability to ensure\u2062 that American taxpayer \u2062dollars are not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-high-risk-hamas-could-steal-gaza-aid-biden-administration-watchdog-warns\/\" title=\"Biden administration watchdog warns of 'high risk' Hamas stealing Gaza aid in Israel war.\">inadvertently supporting terrorist organizations<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The safety and security of the American people should always be our top priority,&#8221; said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR). &#8220;We must \u200dthoroughly\u200d examine how taxpayer money is being allocated and \u200btake swift \u2062action\u200d to rectify any funding decisions\u2062 that could endanger our national security.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The outcome\u200c of this investigation will likely have far-reaching implications for the Biden administration&#8217;s approach to providing aid \u200dand funding to organizations in conflict-ridden regions. It will be a test of their commitment\u2064 to national security and their \u200cability to prevent taxpayer\u2064 money from \u2062falling into the wrong hands.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, Republican senators are vowing to push for legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability in the allocation of foreign aid. \u200dThey argue that stricter vetting procedures must be implemented\u200b to ensure that taxpayer\u200c dollars are used effectively and responsibly.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We \u200bcannot afford\u2062 to be lax in our vetting processes when\u2063 it comes \u2062to providing\u2064 assistance abroad,&#8221; said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).\u2062 &#8220;American taxpayers \u200chave a right to know that their money is being used to support worthy \u200ccauses and not to \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-blast-biden-administration-for-giving-away-the-store-to-iran-in-sanctions-negotiations\/\" title=\"Republicans Blast Biden Administration For \u2018Giving Away The Store\u2019 To Iran In Sanctions Negotiations\">fund terrorist activities<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>With \u2064bipartisan support for increased scrutiny of foreign aid, it is likely that \u200dmeasures will\u200c be put in\u2064 place to prevent a\u200b repeat of the current controversy.\u200d The outcome of the investigation\u2062 and subsequent actions taken will shape the future of U.S. \u2063funding practices and reaffirm\u2064 the commitment to combatting terrorism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republican senators are criticizing the Biden administration for granting funds to a terrorism-linked group, despite ongoing scrutiny by a government watchdog. The U.S. Agency for International Development provided $78,000 to Helping Hand for Relief and Development in October 2023, an organization with alleged ties to terrorists, as reported by the Washington Examiner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":381,"featured_media":2190140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP24061096661226-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2190139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP24061096661226-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2190139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/381"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2190139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2190139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2190140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2190139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2190139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2190139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}