USAID Provided Over $18 Billion in Aid to Nations Linked to Terrorism

Over the past five years, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has funneled more than $18 billion to countries linked to terrorist organizations, including Hamas in Gaza, the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon.

Among the largest recipients of U.S. taxpayer-funded aid was Somalia, which received $3.3 billion from USAID, including $2.3 billion in just the last two years. This surge in funding coincided with increased influence from Somali-American Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been closely tied to Somali politics.

Despite Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack on Israel, USAID continued directing aid to Gaza and the West Bank, providing $2.1 billion since the attack. Similarly, Afghanistan, now under Taliban rule, has received $3.7 billion in U.S. aid since the group took over, raising serious concerns about whether these funds have indirectly supported the regime.

Even as the U.S. military engaged in direct conflict with the Houthis, USAID continued sending billions to Yemen, with $753 million allocated in 2024 alone. Other notable recipients of USAID funding include Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, all of which have ties to terrorist groups or Iranian-backed militias that have attacked U.S. soldiers and allies.

In total, USAID directed $9.3 billion to Islamic terror-linked states responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 American soldiers. Despite the clear risks, the agency continued its practice of funding U.N. and NGO partners operating in these hostile regions with little oversight or accountability.

With the Trump administration restructuring USAID under the State Department, advocates for change argue that it is time to reassess how American aid is used and ensure that taxpayer dollars no longer end up in the hands of groups that seek to harm the U.S. and its allies.

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