The investigation reveals that at least $4 million of these funds are unaccounted for in federal databases, with specific allocations supporting diverse projects in China, including DEI training and research initiatives.
Controversial Findings: U.S. Taxpayer Money Allegedly Funneled to China
Controversial Findings: U.S. Taxpayer Money Allegedly Funneled to China
A new investigation led by Senator Joni Ernst uncovers a shocking $18 million in taxpayer dollars directed to China, raising red flags among lawmakers and watchdog groups.
A revealing investigation spearheaded by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has unveiled an alarming trend: the Biden administration reportedly redirected $18 million of U.S. taxpayer money to Communist China. The unsettling findings, which show millions of dollars either missing or inadequately reported in federal spending records, have ignited a substantial backlash among legislators and oversight organizations.
The investigation highlights that at least $4 million of the allocated funds were either hidden or inaccurately documented in USAspending.gov, the official platform for tracking government grants. Funding was predominantly funneled through the State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support a variety of initiatives in China. These projects included:
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEI) training at U.S. consulates
• Pro-LGBT events hosted in China
• Art billboards and bicycle parking structures
• Initiatives aimed at combating climate change
• Research on rat subjects
Among the substantial allocations, $4.8 million was earmarked for Peking University in Beijing for a comprehensive "China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.” However, Ernst’s investigation unveiled an additional $1.08 million sent to researchers at Peking University, which was disguised as a sub-award associated with a grant to the University of Southern California. This specific grant supported research on brain sensors linked to cognition, addiction, and mood disorders, yet the sub-award was absent from Peking University's profile on USAspending.gov.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit completed in April 2023 corroborated that American funds frequently reach Chinese programs through obscured subawards, cautioning that the scope of the issue remains largely unquantified due to inadequate data transparency. Senator Ernst did not hold back in her critique of the administration, asserting that American taxpayers' money is being utilized to support an antagonistic regime, all while evading scrutiny via obscured details and incomplete disclosures.
