During a signing event for the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday, President Donald Trump made a statement claiming that his administration had successfully intercepted $50 million intended for Gaza, allegedly designated for purchasing condoms for Hamas.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed similar sentiments during her first press briefing, where she asserted that a federal investigation had unveiled plans for taxpayer dollars to fund contraceptive supplies in Gaza. She characterized the potential expenditure as “a ridiculous misuse of taxpayer funds.” However, there is a lack of credible evidence that substantiates these assertions.
Let’s delve into the details surrounding these claims.
CLAIM: The Trump administration halted $50 million from being sent to Gaza for condom purchases for Hamas.
THE FACTS: Trump’s remarks and those of his spokesperson seem to refer to funding initiated by USAID that went to a group known as the International Medical Corps, amounting to $102.2 million aimed at supplying medical and trauma care services in Gaza. Earlier that day, the State Department criticized this funding as “outrageous,” stating it contradicted American interests and the president’s policies.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed on Tuesday via social media that the agency had blocked $102 million in unwarranted funding to a contractor in Gaza, including funds for contraception, thanks to a suspension of foreign assistance.
Administration officials indicated that the Trump government interrupted two separate funding allocations of $50 million each intended for Gaza through the International Medical Corps. This comprised various programs, including family planning services, emergency contraception, and sexual health care—including STI prevention and management—as well as adolescent sexual and reproductive health services.
The total of $100 million for such initiatives also encompassed contraceptives, with officials noting that condoms have historically been employed in family planning efforts in developing nations under USAID initiatives.
The International Medical Corps clarified that no U.S. taxpayer dollars were allocated to acquire or distribute condoms or to deliver family-planning services.
They reported that since October 7, 2023, they had received $68,078,508 from USAID to support operations in Gaza, which included the operation of two significant field hospitals located in central Gaza—a facility in Deir Al Balah and another in Al Zawaida—boasting a combined total of over 250 beds, encompassing both emergency and surgical departments.
These hospitals provide continuous medical care to approximately 33,000 civilians each month. According to the IMC’s data, since January 2024, over 383,000 civilians lacking access to other healthcare resources received treatment, which included around 11,000 surgeries. They also supported the delivery of approximately 5,000 babies and screened 111,000 individuals for malnutrition, treating 2,767 for acute malnutrition and distributing micronutrient supplements to 36,000 individuals.
Jeremy Konyndyk, the President of Refugees International and former overseer of USAID’s COVID-19 assistance during the Biden administration, countered the claims made by Trump and Leavitt on social media.
He noted that USAID procures condoms at a rate of about $0.05 each, indicating that $50 million would equate to a staggering one billion condoms. Konyndyk emphasized, “What’s happening here is not a billion condoms for Gaza. It appears the individuals at the Department of Government Efficiency are misinterpreting government financial data.”
According to USAID’s financial report for the fiscal year 2023, the agency noted minimal family planning program support in the Middle East, with Jordan receiving a minor shipment of contraceptives valued at $45,680, marking the first delivery to the region since fiscal year 2019. Further reports from USAID for the initial three quarters of 2024 specify that all family planning initiatives funded by the organization in the Middle East were limited to Jordan and Yemen.
