{"id":2320672,"date":"2024-08-07T16:36:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T20:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/yellen-under-fire-for-big-ticket-pledge-to-global-pandemic-fund-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-07T16:38:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T20:38:26","slug":"yellen-under-fire-for-big-ticket-pledge-to-global-pandemic-fund-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/yellen-under-fire-for-big-ticket-pledge-to-global-pandemic-fund-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Yellen under fire for big-ticket pledge to global Pandemic Fund &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"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\">26<\/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%2Fyellen-under-fire-for-big-ticket-pledge-to-global-pandemic-fund-washington-examiner%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=2320672&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--><p>Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is facing criticism from\u2063 Senate Republicans regarding her commitment to contribute up to\u2062 $667 million to the World Bank\u2019s global Pandemic Fund, aimed at pandemic prevention and response in low- and middle-income\u2064 countries. \u2064Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) has publicly\u200c condemned \u200dthe pledge, labeling\u2062 it\u2064 a misuse of taxpayer dollars and claiming it undermines American citizens.\u2062 Yellen&#8217;s promise, made during a G20 \u2064meeting, suggests a total of \u2063$2 billion to be raised from\u200d developed nations\u2062 by 2026, of which the \u2062U.S. has already contributed \u200b$450\u2063 million.<\/p>\n<p>Schmitt \u200cargues that the funding is irresponsible and unaccountable, emphasizing a lack of support \u200damong GOP members, especially in \u2064light of \u2063the upcoming\u200d elections. The commitment still requires congressional approval, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/independent-military-lawyers-now-in-charge-of-prosecuting-servicemembers-major-crimes\/\" title=\"Military lawyers now independently prosecuting major crimes committed by servicemembers\">facing significant obstacles<\/a> in a divided Congress. Yellen hopes that the\u2064 U.S. pledge \u2063will encourage other nations and private entities \u2063to increase their contributions.<\/p>\n<p>The Pandemic Fund, established in 2022 in response to COVID-19, had already distributed $338 million \u2063in its initial grants \u2063to 37 countries, with plans for a\u200c second round \u200dof $500 million. Yellen defends the fund \u200das a means to protect both Americans and global\u200c populations from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-pushes-back-against-who-plans-for-global-governance-on-emergencies\/\" title=\"GOP opposes WHO&#039;s plans for &#039;global governance&#039; on emergencies.\">future health crises<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Yellen under fire from Senate Republican for big-ticket pledge to global Pandemic Fund<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1682062\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash; <\/strong>Treasury Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/janet-yellen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Janet Yellen&rsquo;s\">Janet Yellen&rsquo;s<\/a> pledge for the United States to dole out hundreds of millions of dollars to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2790612\/world-bank-pessimistic-economic-forecast-2020s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"World Bank&rsquo;s\">World Bank&rsquo;s<\/a> global <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2841594\/chris-smith-sounds-alarm-who-pandemic-treaty-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"World Bank&rsquo;s\">Pandemic Fund<\/a> is facing intense scrutiny by a Republican opponent.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), in a letter sent to Yellen on Wednesday and first viewed by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, accused the Biden Cabinet official of promulgating a proposal that is a &ldquo;blatant waste of taxpayer dollars and a slap in the face&rdquo; to Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, during the G20 world finance leaders&rsquo; meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Yellen committed that the U.S. will provide up to $667 million through 2026 as part of a broader $2 billion goal to raise money from developed nations for future pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response in low- and middle-income countries. Yellen&rsquo;s pledge would mean the U.S. would have to provide another $217 million by the target date, as the U.S. has already provided $450 million.<\/p>\n<p>Schmitt assailed the commitment as &ldquo;yet another brazen attempt to fund unaccountable entities from the American taxpayer&rsquo;s wallet.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In no world is this commitment a responsible use of taxpayer dollars,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of the Treasury did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>The money is anything but a done deal, however, despite Yellen&rsquo;s vow. The funds are subject to congressional approval and face long odds in a divided Congress, amid GOP opposition, and in the run-up to the November elections. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) is among the House Republicans who, earlier this year, described the World Health Organization&rsquo;s &ldquo;pandemic treaty&rdquo; as an &ldquo;infringement&rdquo; on national sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Yellen hopes the U.S. pledge will spur other countries to double their initial commitments and for new donors to take part, including governments, the private sector, and philanthropies.<\/p>\n<p>She said in a statement last month that the Pandemic Fund &ldquo;will enable us to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics &mdash; protecting Americans and people around the world from the devastating human and economic costs of infectious disease threats.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) delivers a victory speech, Nov. 8, 2022, in Maryland Heights, Missouri. (AP Photos\/Matt Rourke, Jeff Roberson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The fund was established in 2022 in the wake of COVID-19. In 2023, it delved out $338 million in its first round of grants to 37 countries. A second round of $500 million is expected to be released by the year&rsquo;s end for new applicants, according to the treasury.<\/p>\n<p>Countries and philanthropies have so far pledged to donate more than $1.6 billion, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepandemicfund.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according to the fund<\/a>, with the U.S. having committed the highest amount and having provided the largest single-nation donation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Schmitt cited concerns about WHO&rsquo;s involvement in the fund and its role in helping to determine who the money is distributed to due to its handling of both the pandemic and China&rsquo;s role. He also chastised &ldquo;wide-scale government overreach&rdquo; of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-gop-candidate-leads-governors-race-by-2-points-in-deep-blue-oregon\/\" title=\"Poll: GOP Candidate Leads Governor&#039;s Race by 2 Points in Deep Blue Oregon\">pandemic-era mandates<\/a> and restrictions in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;These brutal measures were encouraged and developed by international entities like the WHO, which has refused to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for its responsibility in the origins of the COVID-19 virus,&rdquo; Schmitt wrote to Yellen. &ldquo;Now you are coming to citizens asking them for billions more to fund an even larger international scale operation of suppression and control for the next hypothetical pandemic.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1682062\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1682062\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is facing criticism from Senate Republicans over her commitment to contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the World Bank&#8217;s global Pandemic Fund. In a letter addressed to Yellen, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) accused her of promoting a plan that he described as &#8220;a blatant waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult&#8221; to American citizens. During last month&#8217;s G20 finance leaders&#8217; meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Yellen announced that the U.S. would allocate up to $667 million through 2026 as part of a larger goal to raise $2 billion from developed nations for pandemic prevention and response efforts in low- and middle-income countries. This pledge requires the U.S. to provide an additional $217 million by the deadline, having already contributed $450 million.<\/p>\n<p>Schmitt criticized this commitment as &#8220;another brazen attempt&#8221; to fund unaccountable organizations with taxpayer money, asserting that it is not a responsible use of public funds. The Treasury Department did not respond when asked for comments on this issue.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Yellen&#8217;s assurances, the funding is not guaranteed; it must be approved by Congress, where it faces significant challenges due to Republican opposition and upcoming elections. Some House Republicans have previously labeled the World Health Organization\u2019s pandemic treaty as an infringement on national sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Yellen aims for this U.S. pledge to encourage other nations and new donors\u2014including governments, private sectors, and philanthropic organizations\u2014to increase their contributions. She stated last month that the Pandemic Fund would enhance efforts in preventing and responding to pandemics while protecting both Americans and people globally from severe health crises.<\/p>\n<p>Established in 2022 following COVID-19, the fund distributed $338 million in its first round of grants across 37 countries earlier this year; another round worth $500 million is anticipated by year-end for new applicants. So far, pledges exceeding $1.6 billion have been made by various countries and philanthropies, with the U.S.&#8217;s contribution being both substantial in amount and significance.<\/p>\n<p>Schmitt expressed concerns regarding WHO&#8217;s involvement with how funds are allocated due to its management during past pandemics and its relationship with China concerning COVID-19 origins. He also criticized what he termed &#8220;wide-scale government overreach&#8221; during pandemic restrictions within the U.S., attributing these measures partly to international entities like WHO which he claims failed accountability regarding China&#8217;s role in COVID-19&#8217;s emergence\u2014arguing against further funding requests aimed at expanding international control mechanisms for future pandemics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2320673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/janet-yellen-eric-schmitt.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[37468,36155,37467,34231,5286],"class_list":["post-2320672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-global-health","tag-government-accountability","tag-pandemic-fund","tag-policy-analysis","tag-yellen"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/janet-yellen-eric-schmitt.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320672","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\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2320672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2320672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2320672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2320672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}