White House states that Biden administration spent assistance budget like ‘drunken sailors’
Date
1/30/2025 3:24:06 AM
(MENAFN) White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the Biden administration for its reckless spending, likening it to "drunken sailors," and defended President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily halt foreign aid. Leavitt argued that Trump's executive order, which suspends nearly all foreign aid for 90 days, is part of a broader initiative to enforce fiscal responsibility and align with his “America First” policies.
Leavitt pointed to what the trump administration considers wasteful expenditures, including $37 million allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO) and $50 million for condom distribution programs in Gaza. She called these expenditures an unjustifiable use of taxpayer money, emphasizing that the freeze demonstrates a commitment to responsible public spending.
The executive order, signed shortly after Trump’s second-term inauguration, pauses foreign development aid and other foreign spending for three months while the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Management and Budget review programs. Military aid to Israel and Egypt, as well as emergency food aid, are excluded from the freeze.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the administration will prioritize programs that directly benefit the United States, ensuring each expenditure answers whether it strengthens, secures, or prospers the country.
The freeze has sparked criticism, particularly from diplomats and groups involved in Ukraine-related initiatives. Some diplomats have requested exemptions for critical projects in Ukraine, which are currently under review. Since the conflict in Ukraine began, the U.S. has provided significant military and financial aid to Ukraine, but Trump has voiced skepticism about continuing such high levels of support, advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
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