US Senator Claims USAID Funded Transgender Clinic in India

Senator John Kennedy has alleged that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded a transgender clinic in India as President Donald Trump intensified his crackdown on the agency's global humanitarian initiatives.

The USAID is the largest humanitarian arm of the US government; it has about 10,000 workers and an annual budget of billions. It is guided by the US State Department over foreign policies, and its budget is approved by Congress every year.

"USAID gave money to support electric vehicles in Vietnam with our taxpayers' money. USAID gave money to a transgender clinic in India. I didn't know that. I bet the American people didn't know that. Musk also found that USD 1.5 million was given to Serbian LGBT organisations. They got the money to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbian workplaces and business communities," Kennedy said.

Elon Musk reacted with a surprised "wow" on social media after Senator Kennedy informed the Capitol about findings from the billionaire's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on USAID. Earlier, Musk called the agency a "criminal organisation."

In an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier on Sunday, Trump criticized USAID, stating, "You take a look at USAID, the kind of fraud in there. We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars of money that's going to places where it shouldn't be going. It's crazy. It's a big scam."

Trump's comments followed a court's decision last week to temporarily halt his administration's attempt to shut down USAID and place 2,200 of its employees on paid leave.

Kennedy's claim comes just days after Republican Representative Nancy Mace raised concerns about a USD 750,000 grant from USAID to an NGO connected to actor Sonam Kapoor's brother-in-law, Anant Ahuja, aimed at "alleviating loneliness among migrant workers in India." The issue was brought to light during a USAID funding hearing by the US House Oversight Committee last Wednesday.

Mace questioned, "USAID awarded over USD 750,000 to fund alleviating loneliness among migrant garment workers in India. Does this advance America's interests, Governor?" In response, the Governor said, "No, I have no position."

Mace later tweeted, "USAID is too busy playing global good Samaritan to advance American interests."

The USAID controversy reverberated in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accusing the agency of funding anti-India elements linked to Congress and calling for a thorough investigation. Speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Dubey accused USAID of collaborating with controversial US billionaire George Soros and Congress leadership to advance a "western agenda."

"Did USAID provide Rs 5,000 crore to Open Society Foundation run by George Soros to destabilise India? Did USAID and George Soros Foundation give money to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust or not? I demand that Congress should answer and a govt probe be conducted," Dubey said as members of the Congress protested.