‘Sesame Street in Iraq’: USAID’s ‘wasteful and dangerous’ spending exposed by senator

Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst has recently brought to light what she deems as wasteful and dangerous spending by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In a post on X, Ernst listed various projects and programs that she believes have been a burden on taxpayers until the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) intervened.

One of the examples highlighted by Ernst is the $20 million authorization by USAID to create a version of Sesame Street in Iraq. The show, called “Ahlan Simsim Iraq,” was funded in an effort to promote inclusion and understanding among different ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups in the war-torn country. However, Ernst argues that such spending is unnecessary and wasteful, especially during times of economic strain and vulnerability to radicalization.

Another instance cited by Ernst is USAID’s efforts in Afghanistan, where millions of dollars were spent to encourage farmers to grow crops instead of opium. Unfortunately, this initiative backfired and led to a significant increase in poppy production, fueling the opium trade during the country’s conflict. Similarly, USAID allocated $2 million for Moroccan pottery classes and promotion, with questionable results due to communication barriers between American instructors and local artists.

Moreover, Ernst criticized USAID for allegedly funneling nearly $1 million into coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab that the CIA believes could be the source of COVID-19. Additionally, she pointed out instances where USAID funded tourism promotion in Lebanon, despite State Department warnings against traveling to the country due to various risks.

These revelations have prompted DOGE, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, to investigate USAID’s spending practices. Musk has described the agency as a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists” and has hinted at plans to shut it down, a move that has drawn criticism from Democrats like Rep. Ilhan Omar.

In response to these developments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed control of USAID and emphasized the need to align the agency with Trump’s “America First” policies. As the investigation continues, the future of USAID remains uncertain amid growing concerns over wasteful and potentially harmful spending practices.

Overall, Ernst’s revelations shed light on the need for greater transparency and accountability in government spending, particularly when it comes to international aid programs. As the debate over USAID’s future intensifies, it remains to be seen how the agency will address these allegations and work towards more efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds.