U.S. Congressman Scott Perry has backtracked from his “preposterous claims” that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded the Boko Haram terrorist group which has been unleashing killings, kidnappings and destruction in Nigeria and around Cameroon, Niger and Chad Republics, since 2009.
In a letter to international human rights lawyer and leader of U.S. Nigeria Law Group, Emmanuel Ogebe, Congressman Perry downgraded his earlier “incendiary political rhetoric” where he queried where USAID funds were going and hinted it must be going to fund terrorists including Boko Haram.
But in his February remarks and in his March 26 response to Attorney Ogebe who led the U.S. government to designate Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO.), Perry never mentioned Nigeria nor did he allude to the terrorist group.
Ogebe had written to the Congressman challenging him to “substantiate or recant his blatantly baseless allegations of USAID funding of Boko Haram in Nigeria.” He also petitioned the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate him for his “irresponsible remarks.”
In his reply, Congressman pivoted from terror-financing to claims of “USAID grifting” such as “$446K promoting atheism in Nepal; $14M in cash vouchers for non-citizens at the U.S. Southern border; $1.5M promoting jobs for LGBTQ persons in Serbia; $2.5M for electric vehicle charging stations in Vietnam.”
Congressman Perry, in his letter dated March 26, 2025 to ‘Dear Attorney Ogebe, said: “Thank you for contacting me about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) examination of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). I appreciate your views on this matter, as I do your patience as we navigate a great deal of communication.
“Waste, fraud, and abuse have run rampant in the federal government for decades. DOGE is trying to solve / address it all. The main mission of DOGE is to ensure that that resources of hardworking American People are not squandered. DOGE is going line-by-line across the federal budget inspecting and trying to eliminate waste – something for which I’ve fought and advocated since coming to Congress, so it has my full and enthusiastic support.
“Something else about which I’ve sounded the alarm for years is USAID – one of the greatest grifts against the American Taxpayer. Frustratingly, this was “too hard” for many Members of Congress, the Executive branch, and bureaucrats to handle, let alone actually address; so now that DOGE was allowed to deep-dive into the stunning grift of USAID, it certainly has my full support here as well.
“The egregious USAID grifting includes: funding partisan media outlets like Politico, which received over $8M (and almost $500K for 37 Politico Pro subscriptions at the FDA); $15M for condoms to the Taliban; over $446K promoting atheism in Nepal; $14M in cash vouchers for non-citizens at the U.S. southern border; $1.5M promoting jobs for LGBTQ persons in Serbia; $2.5M for electric vehicle charging stations in Vietnam; over $425K helping Indonesian coffee companies become more climate and gender friendly; over $3.3M for “being LGBTQ in the Caribbean;” and $20M for a Sesame Street-style show in Iraq. This is all just the tip of the iceberg of USAID offenses; it’s insanity – at best – and not only can USAID’s end not come soon enough, but it must be investigated thoroughly for fraud and abuse of Taxpayer dollars.
“While concerns have been raised about DOGE’s dealings with personal information, DOGE has no access to the Treasury’s tax and Social Security data. As a Member on the House Oversight Committee, I will continue to ensure the safety and security of Americans’ personal data.
“I applaud President Trump’s executive action; however, government efficiency needs to be codified. I have introduced a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution every Session that I’ve been in Congress. It requires the federal government to balance its budget and limit it to spending only what it takes in each year. President Trump has taken the first step towards fiscal sanity, now it’s time for Congress to take it to the finish line.
“Once again, thank you for contacting me. I appreciate your concerns and welcome your continued feedback. Please visit my website at perry.house.gov to submit further questions/comments or to sign up for my e-newsletter, Facebook page, and/or Twitter updates. “
