Gaetz files to slash billions in foreign aid, demands leaders focus on ‘our own country’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced an amendment that would reduce funding to the United States Agency of International Development by $4.5 billion.

Gaetz argued that the federal government should spend American taxpayer dollars on the U.S. economy, rather than on other nation’s.

“Instead, we should spend more money on the economic development of our own country,” he said. “And actually, if we spend less money overall, we probably would see less inflation, more prosperity and the type of economic growth we saw under President Trump’s time in office.”

He explained that the agency may have started with noble goals, but they are now promoting abortion “globally,” with American tax dollars. Additionally he said they are pushing pushing President Joe Biden’s “national gender strategy.”

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., rose in opposition to the amendment, arguing it would double down Russia’s aggression on third world countries around the world.

“It’s really ridiculous, it’s cruel and it is not pro-life,” she said.

Gaetz responded saying that $3.5 billion of the cuts would stop the U.S. from paying off debt for Ukraine.

“Now I don’t think it’s an unrealistic position to say that the United States of America should not deficit spend to retire the debt of other countries,” he said.

“Think about that,” he added. “We are borrowing money from China to go settle the debts of Ukraine.”

The Panhandle representative also spoke out about how he plans to vote ‘no’ on the Continuing Resolution.

“Last night, House Republicans agreed that we wouldn’t fund DHS unless e-verify was passed because we’d have to take a vote on HR 2,” Gaetz said on Friday.

“Today, 11 hours later, the Continuing Resolution being considered strips mandatory e-verify and worsens our position on the border,” he added.

He said on the House floor that conservatives “can not be serious about border security without E-Verify.”

Gaetz originally introduced legislation in August to completely abolish the agency because of its “leftist ideology.”

“USAID does not serve a meaningful purpose,” Gaetz said in a press release. “It is used as a slush fund for international woke-ism. Therefore, serious lawmakers in Congress should support its complete abolition.”