Joni Ernst Says USAID ‘Abused The System,’ Agency Threatened Her For Seeking Transparency

Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst appeared Monday on Newsmax to say that members of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have obstructed and even threatened her efforts to oversee how it distributes money.

During an appearance on “The Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Ernst talked about her past problems with USAID and complained about a lack of transparency in how its funds are distributed. Funds, she said, often do not go toward their initially intended purposes. This alleged redirection of funds prompted Ernst to question USAID about its operational practices, a move she said was met with resistance and even threats.

“We do know that there are good programs that have existed out there that have benefited the stability of many regions around the world, which, in turn, benefits the United States of America. But unfortunately, we have seen those at the top again that have really tried to stop members of Congress from understanding how our taxpayer dollars are flowing through the agency,” Ernst said.

The senator said her concerns escalated to the point where she, alongside Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul, initiated a formal investigation into USAID’s activities.

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“We know in the example of Ukraine — and this is what I was very focused on — is the humanitarian aid wasn’t getting distributed to humanitarian aid contractors. Instead, it was being sent to the United Nations, where we have absolutely no idea where that money is going from that point forward. So we tried to call the question on USAID, and, again, they threatened 🇺🇸US, they stonewalled US