The Trump administration has halted $50 million in funding that was reportedly earmarked for providing condoms in Gaza, calling it an unacceptable misuse of US taxpayer money.
In her first press briefing on Tuesday, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had uncovered the allocation of funds and decided to put a stop to it.
Leavitt was blunt in her criticism of the funding, describing it as “preposterous” and insisting that the Trump administration was committed to being responsible stewards of American taxpayer dollars.
“DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So that’s what this pause is focused on—being good stewards of tax dollars,” she stated.
Elon Musk questions the funding
The decision has sparked wide discussion on social media, with SpaceX CEO and DOGE leader Elon Musk weighing in on the controversy.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk cast doubt on whether the funds had actually been used for their stated purpose, hinting that they may have been misappropriated.
“My guess is that a lot of that money ended up in the pockets of Hamas, not actually condoms,” he wrote.
Musk went on to argue that even if the money had been used as intended, the US should not be sending taxpayer dollars abroad to buy condoms for foreign populations.
“Yes, even in the unlikely event that the money was actually spent on condoms, we should NOT be sending US taxpayer money to buy condoms for foreigners,” he added.
Musk also shared a meme mocking the funding, which quickly gained traction online.
Broader context: Houthis and terrorist designation
The revelation about the funding pause comes amid a series of foreign policy moves by the Trump administration, including the reinstatement of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
During the same press conference, a reporter asked Leavitt whether the Biden administration’s decision to remove the Houthis from the FTO list in 2021 was being investigated.
Leavitt appeared sympathetic to the idea, responding:
“Well, that’s a very good point. I haven’t heard discussions about such an investigation, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea considering that the Houthis certainly are terrorists. They have launched attacks on US naval ships across this world, and so I think it was a very wise move by this administration to redesignate them as a terrorist group—because they are.”
She further criticised the previous administration’s decision to remove the Houthis from the list, calling it “foolish” and implying it had contributed to regional instability.
Trump’s executive order on the Houthis
On 22nd January, former President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order redesignating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
The White House statement clarified that this move restores the Houthis’ status as a designated terrorist group, a classification that had originally been imposed by Trump in January 2021 but later revoked by the Biden administration within a month of taking office.
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The decision to re-list the Houthis is expected to have major diplomatic and economic implications, particularly in relation to US-Iran tensions and the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Political reactions and future implications
The freeze on the Gaza funding and the Houthis’ re-designation both align with the Trump administration’s broader foreign policy agenda, which has prioritised cutting foreign aid, increasing financial oversight, and taking a hardline stance against groups linked to terrorism.
The controversy over the $50 million allocation for condoms in Gaza is likely to remain a flashpoint in US domestic politics, with Trump’s allies arguing that the move demonstrates fiscal responsibility, while critics may frame it as an ideologically motivated withdrawal of humanitarian support.
Meanwhile, Trump’s tough stance on the Houthis may increase tensions in the Middle East, particularly as the group has been accused of launching attacks on US naval vessels and commercial shipping routes in recent months.
As the 2024 US presidential election draws closer, these moves are expected to be key talking points in debates over foreign policy and government spending.
