{"id":2399379,"date":"2025-02-05T16:37:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T21:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joni-ernst-backs-trumps-gutting-of-usaid-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T16:38:40","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T21:38:40","slug":"joni-ernst-backs-trumps-gutting-of-usaid-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joni-ernst-backs-trumps-gutting-of-usaid-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Joni Ernst backs Trump\u2019s gutting of USAID &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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%2Fjoni-ernst-backs-trumps-gutting-of-usaid-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=2399379&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>Senator Joni\u2064 ernst (R-IA) has expressed her support \u2063for \u200dPresident Donald Trump&#8217;s initiative\u2063 to dismantle the United States Agency for International Growth (USAID). In a letter to Secretary of State\u200b Marco Rubio, Ernst highlighted issues she discovered in prior investigations, including waste, corruption, inefficiency, and\u200b a pattern of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-operatives-obstructing-oversight-of-border-crisis\/\" title=\"Dem operatives obstructing ... of border crisis\">obstructing congressional oversight<\/a>. She \u2063criticized USAID for\u2063 allegedly misleading lawmakers and mismanaging taxpayer \u2063funds,\u2063 citing specific instances of excessive spending on projects such as pottery classes in Morocco and tourism\u200b in Lebanon. Ernst underscored the need for transparency and reform within the agency, aligning her views with Trump&#8217;s perspective on USAID&#8217;s previous operations. \u2062This move to cut back USAID has \u2063drawn mixed reactions, receiving some praise from Republicans while facing\u200d backlash\u2062 from Democrats. Following the declaration, Trump ordered most USAID\u200c employees off their jobs, leading to a halt of international missions and staff recalls.  <\/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\">Joni Ernst backs Trump&rsquo;s gutting of USAID<\/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_1978197\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joni-ernst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Joni Ernst\">Joni Ernst<\/a> (R-IA) is backing President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Joni Ernst\">Donald Trump<\/a> in his effort to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, obtained by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, Ernst outlined problems with the agency that she discovered in previous investigations. In addition to waste, corruption, and inefficiency, she also alleged a &ldquo;demonstrated pattern of obstructionism&rdquo; in its dealings with the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In response to my concerns, USAID has acted in an unacceptably deceptive and egregious manner. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scotus-overturns-chevron-doctrine-upends-administrative-state\/\" title=\"SCOTUS Overturns Chevron Doctrine, Upends Administrative State\">agency&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s attempts to thwart congressional oversight amount to exactly the type of gaslighting that the American people despise most and see so frequently from Washington,&rdquo; Ernst said. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When approached with reasonable questions, bureaucrats and political appointees stated first that there was nothing to be concerned about. Subsequently, they took every measure possible to resist scrutiny or oversight while they pumped millions in American taxpayer dollars around the globe. One might assume they have something to hide,&rdquo; she continued.<\/p>\n<p>The USAID website said the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">organization distributes funds worldwide<\/a> to assist those &ldquo;recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.&rdquo; Ernst reflected Trump&rsquo;s rhetoric when she denounced the agency as overseeing &ldquo;decades of unchecked, outlandish expenditures.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Iowa senator went into detail regarding some of the excesses of USAID in an X thread, including a reported $2 million for pottery classes in Morocco, an undisclosed sum for Ukrainian models to attend fashion shows abroad, $2 million for tourism in Lebanon, $20 million for a Sesame Street in Iraq, and $9 million in humanitarian assistance for Syria that ended up in the hands of terrorists.<\/p>\n<p>In her letter to Rubio, Ernst alleged that Chemonics, a consultancy funded by USAID based in Washington, D.C., is &ldquo;alleged to have collaborated with a terrorist group and avowed enemy of the United States, bribing the Taliban while carrying out USAID designated programs in Afghanistan.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As I&rsquo;ve said before, sunshine is the very best disinfectant&mdash; now is the time to get to the bottom of USAID&rsquo;s shady practices once and for all. I strongly support your efforts to overhaul this rogue federal agency and stand by ready to assist,&rdquo; Ernst concluded.<\/p>\n<p>The gutting of USAID was one of the most drastic moves of Trump&rsquo;s first month in office, drawing outrage from Democrats and praise from many Republicans.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, Trump announced that he ordered nearly all USAID staffers off their jobs. International missions and operations have been halted, while all international staff will be recalled by Friday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3309793\/rubio-attempts-tamp-down-concerns-immediate-shutdown-usaid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rubio has attempted to quell concerns that USAID could shut down immediately<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3310373\/joni-ernst-spotlights-obstruction-lies-usaid-wasteful-spending\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"saying\">saying<\/a> the State Department and other entities would work with Congress and the other committees &ldquo;to reorganize and absorb certain bureaus, offices, and missions of USAID.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\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_1978197\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1978197\"}});<\/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>Joni Ernst supports Trump&#8217;s efforts to dismantle USAID<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2399380,"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\/2025\/02\/Joni-Ernst-USAID-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33027,3634,16381],"class_list":["post-2399379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-joni-ernst","tag-trump","tag-usaid"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joni-Ernst-USAID-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399379","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\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2399379"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2399383,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399379\/revisions\/2399383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2399380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2399379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2399379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2399379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}