Ernst Blasts USAID for Obstructing Investigations

WASHINGTON – After the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) repeatedly stonewalled her investigations, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) blasted the rogue agency’s history of obstruction and waste.

Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Ernst detailed how USAID had misled, lied, and deceived Americans by blocking her extensive efforts to get answers into how tax dollars were spent at the agency.

In the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ernst outlined her experience beginning with how USAID falsely claimed aid data was classified.

“However, after accepting the requested accommodations and waiting weeks for available SCIF space at USAID’s headquarters, my staff discovered the documents were not classified. The documents my staff reviewed, on their face, failed to comply with standard classifications protocols. Only after demanding to speak to your USAID Office of Security, my staff uncovered that this data was, in fact, unclassified. In a desperate attempt to limit congressional oversight of public information, USAID demonstrated intentional abuse of a system designed to keep our nation’s secret information secure,” wrote Ernst.

Next, she explained how the agency attempted to mislead Congress about the true cost of aid hidden through Negotiated Indirect Cost Agreements (NICRA).

“It was absurd that USAID failed to share NICRA rates on the grounds that the agency can refuse any congressional oversight unless they originate from a ‘committee of jurisdiction.’ Nevertheless, on April 24, 2023, former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and I requested access to the NICRA data. After that, USAID finally allowed my staff to review,” Ernst continued.

She concluded by illustrating USAID’s failures to use tax dollars responsibly.

“In the wake of this series of significant misjudgments and oversight obstruction by USAID, it is of the utmost importance to conduct a full and independent analysis of the recipients of USAID assistance. Congress must pay particular attention to the activities of USAID’s implementing partners, including Chemonics, to verify whether USAID erred in selecting them to manage this funding,” Ernst concluded.

Click here to view the letter.

Background:

While the full extent of waste at USAID remains shrouded in mystery, Senator Ernst exposed a series of jaw-dropping examples, including, sending Ukrainians to Paris Fashion Week, risky research in Wuhan, tourism in Lebanon, and much more.

After being stonewalled, Ernst and Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) launched an official congressional investigation to get answers in April 2023.

In November 2023, Ernst began investigating USAID’s assistance to small businesses in Ukraine.

In March 2024 she led a bipartisan effort to eliminate waste at the agency.

In May 2024, USAID’s obstruction of her oversight efforts led Ernst to call for a probe of the agency’s implementing partners and recipients of aid by the Inspector General.

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