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Trump turns foreign aid into dictator slush fund as Congress snoozes
Daily Kos • • world
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump is reallocating $125 million in existing foreign aid to address rising energy costs, without specifying which countries will receive the funds or how the money will be spent.
- Unlike previous administrations that transparently redirected aid for clear emergencies, the Trump administration's vague explanation raises concerns about arbitrary distribution to favored countries.
- A portion of the diverted funds, originally designated for family planning in low-income countries, is being withheld, reflecting the administration's refusal to support such programs.
- The Trump administration has also redirected aid from countries like Slovakia and North Macedonia to others in the Western Hemisphere, citing national security priorities despite congressional opposition.
- Additionally, Trump has bypassed Congress by illegally using Defense Department funds to pay troops during a government shutdown and withholding over $1 billion in environmental and health research funding.
