(D) Chris Murphy’s USAID Fantasy:
Defending Fear & Waste and More Fear ..
Senator Chris Murphy recently went on the defense for USAID, painting the agency as a global hero fighting terrorism, battling China, and delivering firewood to Ukrainian soldiers. All in a day’s work for the government’s shining star, right? According to Murphy, USAID is the linchpin of American diplomacy and security, keeping terrorists at bay, promoting freedom, and ensuring China doesn't get its hands on all the world’s critical minerals. But, as comforting as his fairy tale sounds, the reality is much less flattering. The truth is far messier than his PR spin, and the more we look at USAID’s track record, the more it becomes clear that Murphy is peddling a fantasy.
Murphy posted his rant of an impassioned defense of USAID, claiming the agency is America’s frontline against terrorism, China, and global instability. According to Murphy, USAID is basically James Bond, the Red Cross, and Captain America all rolled into one. The only problem? None of it is true.
In reality, USAID has become a rogue entity, a self-appointed global NGO with little to no accountability. Even Secretary of State Marco Rubio is openly calling them out, stating:
“They have basically evolved into an agency that believes that they're not even a U.S. government agency, that they are a global charity, that they take the taxpayer money and they spend it as a global charity, irrespective of whether it is in the national interest or not... USAID is not only not cooperative, they undermine the work that we're doing in that country.”
USAID and China: Not the Opponents Murphy Wants You to Think
Murphy’s speech focused on USAID’s supposed rivalry with China, claiming the agency is tirelessly “chasing China around the world.” In reality, USAID’s involvement in global development is more complicated than this narrative suggests.
Let’s talk about the $53 million USAID allegedly funneled to EcoHealth Alliance—money that went toward research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a place with increasingly suspicious ties to the origins of the COVID-19 virus. While Murphy may want to believe that USAID is actively “fighting” China, the money trail suggests that the agency’s spending has, at times, benefitted Chinese interests, not hindered them.
If you’re keeping track, that’s millions in taxpayer dollars potentially funding research linked to the pandemic’s origins. Does Murphy really want to continue promoting USAID as some kind of global protector when it has inadvertently or directly fueled China’s scientific ambitions?
Unintentional Chinese Benefactor?
Then there’s the matter of USAID’s global projects—many of which just so happen to be in regions where China has a significant economic stake. This isn’t a coincidence. In fact, some of USAID’s efforts—like infrastructure projects or development programs—may inadvertently open doors for Chinese companies to establish dominance in these areas. But Murphy doesn’t seem to mind. His hero narrative doesn’t stop to acknowledge the real-world consequences of these actions. Maybe the good intentions aren’t enough when China’s getting a win in the process.
It’s not just about misallocation of funds—it’s about where the money is actually going. In some regions, USAID is helping to boost China’s influence without even realizing it. This “anti-China” stance feels a bit hollow when China ends up with a leg up, thanks to American taxpayers.
Waste, Waste, and More Waste
Here’s where the wheels really come off the Murphy bus. For all his talk about USAID being a force for good, the agency’s history is littered with waste and mismanagement. From $2 million spent on Moroccan pottery classes to $20 million for a Sesame Street show in Iraq, it’s clear that the real mission of USAID isn’t combating terrorism or curbing Chinese influence. It’s funding everything from transgender operas in Colombia to electric vehicles in Vietnam that saved a grand total of 260 gallons of gas.
For all of Murphy’s lofty claims, USAID’s financials tell a different story—one that involves massive amounts of money being spent on frivolous or ineffective projects while taxpayer dollars disappear into the ether.
The One Man Who Actually Did Something About It
But there’s one member of Congress who isn’t buying into this nonsense. Matt Gaetz was one of the only lawmakers to stand up and take action, introducing the Defund USAID Act in 2021, which called for the complete defunding of USAID. Gaetz wasn’t out here making speeches about the agency’s importance—he was pushing for real reform. His bill proposed that taxpayer money should be spent on more pressing issues instead of continuing to fund wasteful programs that benefit neither the American people nor the global community.
While Gaetz stood alone in his efforts to defund USAID, Chris Murphy and his colleagues in Congress continued to defend the agency’s massive budget, without asking any tough questions. He was joined by other Washington elites, like Jim Himes of Connecticut, who refused to challenge the status quo or confront the waste that is rotting the heart of American foreign aid.
The Clock is Ticking for Connecticut Politicians
It’s clear that Murphy and Himes have been working overtime to defend the indefensible. They’ve been lying by omission to their constituents about where their money is going, all while political theater like firewood deliveries to Ukraine distracts from the real issues.
Murphy, in particular, seems content to let USAID’s budget grow unchecked while voters in Connecticut continue to shoulder the bill. This type of Washington dysfunction isn’t just frustrating—it’s dangerous. The more Murphy and his cronies defend USAID, the more disillusioned voters become. That’s precisely why they voted for Donald Trump in 2016: they were sick of the waste, the mismanagement, and the lack of accountability.
Come the midterms, Connecticut voters will have an opportunity to hold Murphy, Himes, and other career politicians accountable for their complicity in defending these absurd expenditures. Voters are fed up with the status quo. This is the filth that Americans have had enough of—and it’s about time that Connecticut's politicians realize that they are living on borrowed time.
The Defund USAID Act might have been defeated in 2021, but the fight is far from over. With more people waking up to the reality of what’s been happening with their taxpayer dollars, Connecticut voters won’t forget who defended the bureaucracy and who fought for change. When it comes time to vote, Chris Murphy and his allies may be in for a rude awakening.
SOURCES:
Elon Musk via Fox News: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1886647147421958468?s=46&t=QhAVSAbdEOUk17guAyC2tA