White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday, January 28, that the Trump administration froze a $50 million federal disbursement for “condoms in Gaza.”
The Office of Management and Budget and the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency identified the funds before they were issued. “They found that $50 million in taxpayer dollars was about to be spent on condoms in Gaza,” Leavitt told reporters. “That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. This pause is about being responsible stewards of tax dollars.”
President Donald Trump has ordered a broad freeze on foreign aid and domestic grants, with the White House stating that the move aligns federal spending with the administration’s priorities under the DOGE and the Office of Management and Budget.
The U.S. Agency for International Development operates a family planning and reproductive health programme in 41 countries but does not list Gaza or Israel as recipients. However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises travellers to “Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza” to bring “latex condoms” to prevent illness or injury.
In 2020, Hamas reportedly used helium-inflated condoms to send firebombs into Israel.
At the first White House press briefing of the new administration, Leavitt also addressed Trump’s decision to remove security details from former officials under threat from Iran. This came after Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) urged the president to “revisit” the decision on Monday.
“He does not believe American taxpayers should fund security details for individuals who have served in the government for the rest of their lives,” Leavitt said. “There’s nothing stopping these individuals from obtaining private security.”
When asked if the administration planned to investigate Biden officials who funded the U.N.’s Palestinian aid agency (UNRWA) and removed Yemen’s Houthi rebels from the list of designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Leavitt said it was not under discussion.
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea, considering that the Houthis certainly are terrorists,” she added.
