USAID's Dark Secret: American Tax Dollars Funded Terror Leader

Paul Riverbank, 2/11/2025USAID accidentally funded future al Qaeda leader's college education, sparking Trump administration oversight controversy.

The unearthed documents, which have sent shockwaves through Washington's political circles, appear to show that USAID provided "full funding" for Anwar al-Awlaki's attendance at Colorado State University in 1990. Al-Awlaki, who was later killed in a 2011 drone strike in Yemen during the Obama administration, would become a central figure in al Qaeda's operations.

The revelation comes amid an aggressive push by the Trump administration — through its newly-established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — to root out what it describes as systemic waste and mismanagement in federal spending. The timing couldn't be more politically charged, as USAID finds itself at the center of a broader controversy regarding its operational future.

"We have to solve the efficiency problem," President Trump emphasized in a recent interview with Fox News' Bret Baier. "We have to solve the fraud, waste, abuse, all the things that have gone into the government. You take a look at the USAID, the kind of fraud in there."

The al-Awlaki document — which was previously reported by George Washington University's National Security Archive in 2015 but has gained renewed attention — reveals a troubling detail: the future terrorist allegedly obtained the funding by fraudulently claiming Yemeni nationality, despite being born in New Mexico. The form listed his birthplace as Sana'a, Yemen's capital, in what appears to be a deliberate misrepresentation to qualify for foreign citizen scholarships.

This historical oversight has become ammunition for DOGE's broader campaign against government waste. The agency, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has already begun dismantling parts of USAID's operations — a move that has sparked intense debate and legal challenges. Just last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration's attempt to place approximately 2,200 USAID employees on leave.

The controversy extends beyond USAID to other federal agencies. In a parallel development, DOGE recently identified significant spending by FEMA on housing for illegal immigrants — $59 million for luxury hotels in New York City alone — raising questions about the prioritization of federal resources.

Critics of the current reforms, including numerous USAID employees, have characterized DOGE's investigation as a "mafia-like takeover," with some reporting they are "psychologically frightened" about potential data exposure. However, supporters argue that such aggressive oversight is long overdue.

The al-Awlaki case particularly resonates because of its tragic implications. After completing his engineering degree in 1994, al-Awlaki went on to become a radical cleric with connections to multiple terrorist attacks, including the Fort Hood shooting in 2009 that claimed 13 lives. His trajectory from USAID-funded student to terrorist leader raises profound questions about vetting procedures and the long-term consequences of foreign aid decisions.

As the Trump administration continues its efficiency drive, the USAID revelations serve as a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in managing federal programs — where today's funding decisions can have unforeseen consequences decades later. The debate over reform versus preservation of these agencies continues to intensify, with both sides claiming to represent the best interests of American taxpayers and national security.

In a stunning revelation that underscores the complex challenges of government oversight, documents have emerged showing that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reportedly funded the college education of a future al Qaeda terrorist — highlighting what critics say exemplifies decades of questionable spending practices by federal agencies.The unearthed documents, which have sent shockwaves through Washington's political circles, appear to show that USAID provided "full funding" for Anwar al-Awlaki's attendance at Colorado State University in 1990. Al-Awlaki, who was later killed in a 2011 drone strike in Yemen during the Obama administration, would become a central figure in al Qaeda's operations.The revelation comes amid an aggressive push by the Trump administration — through its newly-established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — to root out what it describes as systemic waste and mismanagement in federal spending. The timing couldn't be more politically charged, as USAID finds itself at the center of a broader controversy regarding its operational future."We have to solve the efficiency problem," President Trump emphasized in a recent interview with Fox News' Bret Baier. "We have to solve the fraud, waste, abuse, all the things that have gone into the government. You take a look at the USAID, the kind of fraud in there."The al-Awlaki document — which was previously reported by George Washington University's National Security Archive in 2015 but has gained renewed attention — reveals a troubling detail: the future terrorist allegedly obtained the funding by fraudulently claiming Yemeni nationality, despite being born in New Mexico. The form listed his birthplace as Sana'a, Yemen's capital, in what appears to be a deliberate misrepresentation to qualify for foreign citizen scholarships.This historical oversight has become ammunition for DOGE's broader campaign against government waste. The agency, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has already begun dismantling parts of USAID's operations — a move that has sparked intense debate and legal challenges. Just last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration's attempt to place approximately 2,200 USAID employees on leave.The controversy extends beyond USAID to other federal agencies. In a parallel development, DOGE recently identified significant spending by FEMA on housing for illegal immigrants — $59 million for luxury hotels in New York City alone — raising questions about the prioritization of federal resources.Critics of the current reforms, including numerous USAID employees, have characterized DOGE's investigation as a "mafia-like takeover," with some reporting they are "psychologically frightened" about potential data exposure. However, supporters argue that such aggressive oversight is long overdue.The al-Awlaki case particularly resonates because of its tragic implications. After completing his engineering degree in 1994, al-Awlaki went on to become a radical cleric with connections to multiple terrorist attacks, including the Fort Hood shooting in 2009 that claimed 13 lives. His trajectory from USAID-funded student to terrorist leader raises profound questions about vetting procedures and the long-term consequences of foreign aid decisions.As the Trump administration continues its efficiency drive, the USAID revelations serve as a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in managing federal programs — where today's funding decisions can have unforeseen consequences decades later. The debate over reform versus preservation of these agencies continues to intensify, with both sides claiming to represent the best interests of American taxpayers and national security.