On Tax Day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio slashed $214 million in foreign grants that were funding such ridiculous programs as “Building the Migrant Domestic Worker-Led Movement” in Lebanon and “Get the Trolls Out” in the UK.
At a Glance
- Secretary Rubio canceled 139 grants worth $214 million, targeting programs left by the previous administration
- Questionable programs included $16 million for “newsroom sustainability” in Moldova and $5.2 million for “media diversity” in the UK
- The cuts primarily affect the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL)
- A broader review found $60 billion in grants not aligned with Trump administration policies
- The move represents a shift toward prioritizing American taxpayer interests over dubious foreign initiatives
A Much-Needed Axe to Ridiculous Foreign Spending
While millions of Americans were rushing to file their tax returns this April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was busy putting an end to some of the most absurd uses of those hard-earned tax dollars. In a move that should have every taxpayer standing up and cheering, Rubio announced the cancellation of 139 foreign grants worth a staggering $214 million.
This latest round of cuts sends a crystal-clear message that the days of sending American money overseas for questionable progressive pet projects are over. The bureaucrats who authorized spending millions on programs like “Building the Migrant Domestic Worker-Led Movement” in Lebanon must have thought the U.S. Treasury was their personal slush fund.
“[Rubio] has canceled another 139 grants worth $214 million,” addressing what he called “the mess the previous administration left.” These aren’t funds for genuine humanitarian aid or critical foreign policy initiatives – we’re talking about millions being funneled into projects that read like parodies.
The cancellations primarily target the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), which apparently never met a progressive social experiment it didn’t want to fund with your tax dollars. The sheer absurdity of these programs would be laughable if they weren’t costing American taxpayers hundreds of millions during a time of crushing inflation and economic hardship at home.
Your Tax Dollars, Their Progressive Propaganda
Let’s take a moment to appreciate just how outrageous some of these canceled grants truly were. How about $16 million for “newsroom sustainability” in Moldova? Or $5.2 million for “media diversity” in the United Kingdom – because apparently the UK, one of the world’s most advanced democracies, desperately needs American taxpayers to fund its media diversity.
Then there’s the $400,000 earmarked for “environmental resilience” in Armenia. All this while American cities crumble, our border remains wide open, and working families struggle to put food on the table. The previous administration clearly had priorities, and supporting American citizens wasn’t anywhere near the top of the list.
This move is part of a much larger effort to realign our foreign spending with actual American interests. According to the Free Beacon, a comprehensive review found a staggering $60 billion in grants that were completely out of step with the Trump administration’s policies.
For years, we’ve watched as billions of American dollars have been shipped overseas to fund everything from gender studies in Pakistan to drag queen story hours in Ecuador (yes, really). Meanwhile, America’s own infrastructure crumbles, veterans sleep on the streets, and families struggle to afford basic necessities. This administration is finally putting America First in deed, not just in words.
Rubio’s History of Fighting Against Wasteful Spending
This isn’t Rubio’s first rodeo when it comes to tackling wasteful government spending and policies that don’t serve American interests. Back in 2016, as a Senator, Rubio introduced legislation to eliminate automatic federal benefits for Cuban immigrants who couldn’t prove they were actually fleeing persecution.
At the time, he targeted a policy that was being abused and costing American taxpayers $680 million annually. As the son of Cuban immigrants himself, Rubio understood the difference between legitimate refugees and those gaming the system, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to protecting American resources from exploitation.
The cancellation of these 139 foreign grants shows that the administration is serious about reviewing every dollar spent overseas. For too long, federal agencies have operated with virtually no accountability, funneling billions into programs that advance globalist agendas while doing nothing to help American citizens.
This $214 million is just the tip of the iceberg, but it represents a significant step toward fiscal sanity and responsible governance. Every dollar sent overseas for progressive pet projects is a dollar not spent fixing our roads, securing our border, or helping American families struggling under crushing inflation caused by the previous administration’s reckless spending.
