Republican Nancy Mace questions USAID’s use of US tax dollars in Jamaica
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:40 AMKimone Francis - Senior Staff Reporter
A United States congresswoman has listed Jamaica among countries she says are benefiting wrongfully from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, asserting that agendas which run counter to an America first policy are being promoted.
Republican Nancy Mace, the South Carolina representative, used last Wednesday’s House Oversight and Government Reform hearing to rail against the US$50-billion agency established six decades ago to administer civilian foreign aid and development assistance.
Mace argued that USAID, which the Donald Trump administration has moved to disband triggering panic globally, has long strayed from its mission to effectively and efficiently administer aid to advance American interest.
“It has become rotten to its core, sacrificing the prudent use of taxpayer dollars at the altar of advancing radical, sinister, social and political agendas abroad,” Mace said.
The congresswoman listed several countries in which she said USAID funding is being used to further these agendas, questioning whether they served America’s interest.
Mace said USAID, which had a significant number of its programmes halted globally, funded discriminatory diverse, equity and inclusive initiatives and “extreme gender ideology to marginalise real bona fide biological women”.
She said that for decades, while Americans suffered at home, USAID “pillaged and plundered” the American treasury by funding “some of the stupidest, just dumbest” initiatives.
She questioned whether the use of US tax dollars in several countries put America first.
“USAID awarded US$1.5 million (J$225 million) to fund strengthening community support structures to upscale LGBT rights advocacy in Jamaica. Does this advance our interest?” Mace asked of a panel of three governors.
Two of the governors answered in the negative while one held no position.
The question fell among a slew posed to the panel.
She charged that the US foreign assistance system is “badly broken” and insisted that this would end now.
USAID suspended its programme globally on January 24, following an order from the US Department of State, though several implementing agencies have been granted limited waivers to continue with those considered life-saving humanitarian assistance.
Last Wednesday, USAID wrote to the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, instructing that its Faculty of Medical Sciences, through Health Connect Jamaica (HCJ), could continue with its programme to expand access and utilisation of high-quality HIV-specific primary health services.
USAID granted US$4 million to the programme, 10 per cent of which went to UWI to oversee its operations. The funding was to cover four years, from 2024 to 2028, and to focus on HIV and global health initiatives.
However, it forbade the university, in the February 5 letter to Mona Campus Principal Professor Densil Williams, from undertaking work outside of life-saving humanitarian assistance for HIV.
“UWI/HCJ will not undertake activities related to abortion services, family planning, conferences, administrative costs outside the scope outlined in the attachment, or programmes centred on gender; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); transgender surgeries; or other forms of non-lifesaving assistance,” the letter said.
It is not clear if HCJ had ever focused on or promoted programmes outside of its work to assist HIV patients.
“For purposes of this limited waiver, life-saving humanitarian assistance applies only to: Delivery of life-saving HIV care and treatment services through support for health workers (doctors, nurses, and other clinical and community health workers, etc.) delivering or monitoring HIV care and treatment to ensure continuity of service provision. These workers deliver care at hospitals, primary healthcare clinics, faith-based clinics, and community settings … .
“This limited waiver does not apply to activities that involve abortions, family planning, conferences, administrative costs other than those covered by above, gender or DEI ideology programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-lifesaving assistance,” the document outlined.
On Friday, a federal judge handed President Donald Trump and billionaire supporter Elon Musk their first significant setback in efforts to dismantle USAID.
US District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, ruled to temporarily halt plans to remove thousands of USAID staff members from their positions.
The judge also blocked an order that would have forced thousands of USAID workers stationed overseas to take administrative leave and relocate their families back to the US within 30 days, at the government’s expense. The judge stated that these actions would unnecessarily expose US workers, along with their families, to undue risk and financial burden.