White House Justifies US Aid Freeze With Unverified Gaza Condom Claim
The Trump administration has frozen nearly all US foreign aid, citing an unverified claim that the Biden administration allocated $50 million for a condom distribution program in Gaza. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the funding freeze Tuesday, stating that the expenditure was discovered by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
“This is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money,” Leavitt said at her first press briefing, arguing that the claim justified President Donald Trump’s order for a 90-day review of foreign assistance. The freeze, which affects most US overseas aid except for emergency food programs and military assistance to Israel and Egypt, aligns with the administration’s opposition to abortion, transgender rights, and diversity initiatives.
Former US officials and aid experts have pushed back against the White House’s claims. Andrew Miller, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs under President Joe Biden, dismissed the condom program allegation as “outlandish.” He noted that while US foreign aid includes funding for sexual health services, no evidence supports the claim that such a large sum was allocated solely for condoms in Gaza. On the Musk-owned social media platform X, Miller wrote, “No, the Biden Administration did NOT spend $50 million on condoms for Gaza. White House either can’t read a simple spend table or it’s lying.”
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The US Agency for International Development spent a total of $60 million worldwide on all forms of contraception in 2023, making the alleged $50 million Gaza expenditure highly improbable.
The funding freeze has drawn international concern. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that suspending US aid could have significant humanitarian consequences, as the US has historically been one of the largest providers of global development assistance. Leading aid organizations have begun halting operations, fearing financial losses from the suspension. Meanwhile, a federal judge has temporarily blocked parts of the aid freeze, delaying implementation of some restrictions until at least Monday.
Israeli officials previously reported that fighters in Gaza used condoms as improvised explosive devices attached to balloons, launching them into southern Israel. These devices have caused damage to agricultural fields, highways, and schoolyards. While the origins of the condoms used in these attacks remain unclear, some were reportedly supplied by local Palestinian organizations or international humanitarian groups.
As the Trump administration moves forward with its review, officials have assured multiple Middle Eastern governments that the suspension may be lifted in the coming months. However, it remains unclear how much assistance will resume and whether the administration will impose new conditions on future funding.
