A US Congressman, Scott Perry, has accused the US Agency for International Development (USAID) of funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
During a congressional hearing on February 13, Perry, a Republican representative from Pennsylvania, alleged that USAID funds were being misused to support extremist groups. He made the allegations during the opening hearing of the Subcommittee on Ensuring Government Efficiency, where he presented a report titled Fighting Waste: Eliminating the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud.
In a video circulating online, Perry questioned the agency’s oversight, saying, “Who gets some of this money? Your money—$697 million a year—plus cash fund shipments are going into the hands of Madrassas, Daesh, Boko Haram, Daesh-K, and terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s financing.”
He also claimed that USAID allocated $136 million to build 120 schools in Pakistan, but there was no evidence that the schools were built. He also criticized USAID’s efforts in Afghanistan, including the Women’s Scholarship Foundation and Young Women’s Leadership programs, which receive $60 million and $5 million annually, respectively. Perry argued that these programs were ineffective.
The congressman accused USAID of indirectly funding terrorism through its programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Someone else got the money. You’re paying for terrorism. This has to stop,” He said.
USAID has come under scrutiny in recent years, particularly after the Trump administration’s efforts to restructure the agency. The agency, which operates in more than 120 countries, provides humanitarian aid, healthcare support and emergency relief worldwide. But its role has been criticized by some conservatives, including billionaire Elon Musk, who has publicly questioned the agency’s work.
Perry’s allegations have reignited debate about USAID’s accountability and the effectiveness of U.S. foreign aid programs, but the agency has not issued a formal response to the allegations.