US Political News and Trump’s China visit

GAO says watchdogs can’t trace $1.2B in anti-China influence projects since 2020​

by KRISTINE FRAZAO | The National News Desk

Mon, June 29, 2026 at 3:53 PM

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Where did the money go? That’s a question government watchdogs are asking about a program mandated by Congress to try to diminish Chinese influence on a global scale.

The Government Accountability Office is out with a brand-new report that is full of questions about how more than a billion dollars in taxpayer money was spent.

The effort is one very few in Congress would disagree is needed: how to counter the Chinese communist party’s growing power and influence around the world.

It’s the central reason why Congress allocated money and resources: to counter China's economic coercion, its efforts to expand its authoritarian system of government and military sales and development of military technology.

The U.S. State Department and (now defunct) U.S. Agency for International Development reported funding 470 projects costing about $1.2 billion for fiscal years 2020 - 2023.

But there has been little accounting of what specifically the money was spent on.

The report asserts that the working group, which oversees the process, does not have readily available and reliable data on projects that it funded and approved since 2020, data the GAO said would be important to track how funding has been used.

There is also concern that there isn't even "a framework to determine the results of the projects that were carried out."

Questions were raised about the fund back in May 2023, during a hearing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"The budget is also not clear on how USAID plans to spend the requested $400 million for the countering PRC influence fund," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

Then USAID Administrator Samantha Power made the case that the millions of dollars requested would be money well spent

"An international order that values democracy and human rights and respects international borders is not a given. Indeed, 3532 authoritarian actors are challenging and aiming to reshape it. We have to invest in the stable and more humane world that we need," he said.
 
To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
Watandar said:
MAGA wants to sterilize all visitors to the US.

www.independent.co.uk

MAGA advocate calls for ‘sterilization’ of visitors to the US after birthright defeat

MAGA influencer Sean Davis made the ‘unhinged’ suggestions following Trump’s Supreme Court defeat on birthright citizenship
www.independent.co.uk www.independent.co.uk
Click to expand...
Denying entry to pregnant visitors is a feasible idea that can be supported by the Naturalization and Immigration Act of 1952. It would also put a serious crimp in Chinese birth tourism.

Sterilization? Seriously? What's next? Jack boots and shouts of "sieg heil"?

As for the rest of the "proposals", he sounds as loony as the Democrats.

I suggest people here, especially expats residing in the US, read up on the history of the 14th Amendment. What we have today was a compromise to win over votes in the Senate.

Do I agree with the SCOTUS decisions? It's irrelevant. As the Constitution is written, they ruled correctly within the very narrow definition of citizenship.

The question that wasn't addressed was the matter of the parents who are here illegally. Does this ruling give them an automatic ticket to stay? Because, their minor child is unable to enter into contracts and similar.
 
AZ_HighCountry said:
Denying entry to pregnant visitors is a feasible idea that can be supported by the Naturalization and Immigration Act of 1952. It would also put a serious crimp in Chinese birth tourism.
Click to expand...
I dislike birth tourism a lot and don't have a problem with efforts to minimize it.
AZ_HighCountry said:
Sterilization? Seriously? What's next? Jack boots and shouts of "sieg heil"?
Click to expand...
Well it is a dream of the hard-right :D
AZ_HighCountry said:
As for the rest of the "proposals", he sounds as loony as the Democrats.

I suggest people here, especially expats residing in the US, read up on the history of the 14th Amendment. What we have today was a compromise to win over votes in the Senate.

Do I agree with the SCOTUS decisions? It's irrelevant. As the Constitution is written, they ruled correctly within the very narrow definition of citizenship.
Click to expand...
Agree
AZ_HighCountry said:
The question that wasn't addressed was the matter of the parents who are here illegally. Does this ruling give them an automatic ticket to stay? Because, their minor child is unable to enter into contracts and similar.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I hope not. The amendment handles the citizenship question only and does not imply any other rights or privileges.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

  • Total: 5 (members: 1, guests: 4)

    Pakistan Defence Latest

    Country Watch Latest

    Latest Posts

    Share this page

    Back
    Top