AP post on USAID cuts backfires as critics question taxpayer-funded Nepal transgender jobs

An Associated Press societal media station astir transgender assistance workers successful Nepal turning to activity activity aft losing their jobs owed to U.S. overseas assistance cuts sparked a activity of blimpish backlash, pinch critics arguing nan video made nan lawsuit for defunding USAID alternatively than redeeming it.

The AP station said that successful Nepal, wherever "a blimpish civilization leaves openly transgender group pinch fewer ineligible occupation options," astir 100 LGBTQ assistance workers near jobless by U.S. backing cuts had turned to activity activity to survive. An accompanying video focused connected Rubi Lama, a erstwhile HIV outreach worker who said USAID-funded programs had provided free condoms, lubricant and HIV-prevention medicine earlier nan cuts.

"When USAID backing was there, condoms were free, lubricant was besides distributed … for free," Lama said successful nan video, adding that HIV treatments, including PrEP, were besides disposable without cost. "But, now it is gone."

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The framing quickly drew disapproval from conservatives who said nan communicative raised nan other question: why American taxpayers were backing those programs successful nan first place.

The emblem of nan United States Agency for International Development, aliases USAID, flies successful beforehand of nan USAID agency successful Washington, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, was among nan conservatives who based on nan AP study made nan other constituent from nan 1 intended.

"Our taxation dollars nary longer money employment for transgender Nepalese activity workers," Gill wrote connected X. "Thank you for reminding america why defunding USAID was agelong overdue."

"Wow very grateful that my taxation dollars are nary longer backing a bunch of random trannies successful Asia," mocked Daily Wire big Matt Walsh "Is that nan constituent you were trying to make aliases did you expect america to beryllium someway sad astir this?"

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Artist execute during nan first resistance queen show successful Kathmandu, Nepal, connected June 11, 2019. - First clip successful Nepal's LGBT organization showing resistance queen nighttime pinch colorful costumes and makeup. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP)

The backlash comes aft President Donald Trump, instantly upon returning to office, ordered a 90-day region connected caller overseas improvement assistance obligations and disbursements while his management reviewed whether programs aligned pinch his overseas policy.

USAID later told partners to region caller backing obligations and rumor stop-work orders aliases suspensions for existing awards, while critics person said nan reappraisal led to awesome disruptions, unit reductions and nan cancellation of captious foreign-assistance awards.

But Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway based on nan AP station exposed misplaced priorities, peculiarly among nan media, saying nan outlet presented U.S. taxation dollars flowing to a "trans Nepalese occupation protection program" arsenic though it was a bully usage of nationalist money.

Holes are seen connected nan building aft signage was removed (top) while achromatic integrative covers nan logo of nan United States Agency for International Development (USAID) astatine its office successful Washington, DC, connected February 7, 2025. ( MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

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"The AP announces that your hard-earned taxation dollars were flowing to a trans Nepalese occupation protection programme arsenic if that was an moreover remotely bully usage of your money," Hemingway wrote successful a station connected X. "AP is sick Democrat propaganda."

"How situation Elon trim USAID costs to nan Nepalese trans activity worker community," quipped Republican activistic Jack Posobiec.