US Agency Accused of Funding Left-Wing Causes Abroad

U.S. and Latin American officials have accused the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of using American taxpayer funds to support causes championed by left-wing candidates across Latin America. The allegations come as several countries in the region have elected conservative leaders.

U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera stated that USAID was attempting to run its own foreign policy, diverging from efforts focused on disaster relief and recovery. Cabrera contrasted the agency's past programs with current initiatives led by the State Department and U.S. Southern Command, which he described as successfully responding to natural disasters in countries like Jamaica, Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama. He criticized what he termed "crazy agendas, like failed DEI policies that have nothing to do with foreign policy or disaster relief and recovery."

Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian politician and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, echoed these sentiments, claiming that over $60 million in U.S. taxpayer funds were directed to Brazil through USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Atlantic Council. According to Bolsonaro, these funds were used to support organizations that combat what they label as "right-wing misinformation."

Bolsonaro asserted that this constitutes "foreign election interference" and that American taxpayer dollars were used to finance foreign censorship under the guise of promoting left-wing agendas, which he argued is contrary to USAID's original mission established by President John F. Kennedy. He suggested that ideological division and polarization under the Biden administration had diverted the agency from its intended purpose.

USAID's dismantling and the shift of foreign assistance functions to the State Department followed a decision made during the Trump administration. Cabrera indicated that this restructuring has allowed for closer collaboration between the State Department and U.S. Southern Command with partner countries on disaster response. He also referred to a previous AP report that highlighted taxpayer-funded transgender jobs in Nepal following USAID cuts, which drew criticism and questions about the agency's spending priorities.

The Atlantic Council and the National Endowment for Democracy did not respond to requests for comment.