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How USAID Squandered Billions in Haiti and Beyond
USAID has funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into international aid, yet little progress has been made. DOGE wants transparency, and we should too. The government industrial complex resists scrutiny, allowing waste and corruption to thrive.
I’ve seen it firsthand. Over 40 trips to Haiti, invited by then-President René Préval to aid post-earthquake reconstruction, I watched USAID and NGOs like the Red Cross and World Bank fail to deliver on promises, mismanage funds, and even skim money off the top.
Billions Sent But Where Did It Go?
Since Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, the U.S. has sent $4.4 billion in aid. Breakdown:
- $1.5 billion for emergency relief
- $3 billion for rebuilding and development
Of the $2.13 billion in contracts and grants, less than 2 percent went to Haitian organizations, while 56 percent went to D.C.-area firms.
USAID refuses to release spending data, making it nearly impossible to track results.
Lack of Accountability Equals Disaster
A 2010 report on 196 NGOs found that only eight had transparent data.
- Twenty percent even responded to transparency requests
- Of $1.4 billion in donations, only $730 million was spent on Haiti
The Red Cross raised $500 million but built just six homes despite claiming to shelter 130,000 people. They won’t disclose specifics on how the money was spent.
Why This Keeps Happening
Relief money passes through layers of middlemen before reaching those in need. USAID, the Red Cross, and other NGOs take cuts for administrative fees at every level, leaving little for actual aid.
In 2023, the U.S. sent $72 billion in foreign aid to 180 countries, with USAID at the helm. Given its track record, a full audit is overdue. Taxpayers and aid recipients deserve better.