Former U.S. Congressman joins Mike Baker to discuss taking Wrecking Ball to USAID
Here is Jim Renacci interviewing with Mike Baker of the President’s Daily Brief
Former U.S. Congressman Jim Renacci sat down with Mike Baker on The President’s Daily Brief for a hard-hitting discussion on why the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) needs to be dismantled. The conversation pulled no punches as Renacci laid out his case for taking a wrecking ball to the agency, exposing waste, corruption, and misplaced priorities that have turned USAID into a bloated, ineffective bureaucracy that serves special interests more than the American people.
USAID: A Case Study in Government Waste
Renacci wasted no time in detailing USAID’s financial black hole, highlighting billions in taxpayer dollars funneled into programs that have little to no accountability. He pointed out that much of USAID’s budget is spent on foreign projects that yield no measurable benefits to the U.S. Instead, they often line the pockets of corrupt foreign governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that operate with virtually no oversight.
“American taxpayers are being forced to bankroll an agency that has lost its way,” Renacci said. “USAID was created to promote economic growth and stability, but instead, it has become a slush fund for globalist agendas that have nothing to do with American interests.”
Funding America’s Adversaries
One of Renacci’s most damning criticisms was that USAID frequently funnels money to countries that actively work against the U.S.. He and Baker discussed shocking reports of USAID funds ending up in the hands of regimes with anti-American policies or being used to prop up international programs that directly contradict U.S. foreign policy goals.
“Why are we sending hundreds of millions of dollars to countries that oppose us in the United Nations?” Renacci asked. “Why is USAID funding organizations that undermine our own national security interests?”
He pointed to USAID’s operations in China, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, where funds have been mismanaged, misappropriated, or outright stolen. Even more troubling, some USAID programs have indirectly benefited groups with ties to terrorism, a fact that Renacci believes should alarm every American.
Misplaced Priorities: Woke Ideology Over Real Aid
Renacci and Baker also discussed how USAID has shifted its focus from humanitarian assistance to advancing radical social agendas. Instead of focusing on providing food, clean water, and medical aid, USAID now funds programs promoting gender ideology, climate activism, and left-wing political movements in foreign countries—often in places where these issues are irrelevant compared to immediate crises like hunger and disease.
“We’ve got an agency that cares more about pushing a woke agenda overseas than actually delivering aid where it’s needed,” Renacci said. “How does it make sense to prioritize diversity workshops in Africa over ensuring people have basic necessities?”
A Culture of Corruption and Zero Accountability
Another major issue Renacci raised was USAID’s lack of accountability. He described the agency as a “bureaucratic black hole”, where billions disappear without proper audits, and no one is ever held responsible for failures or mismanagement.
He highlighted specific cases where USAID funding was routed through third-party contractors and NGOs with political connections, often with no transparency about how the money was ultimately used. This culture of corruption is something Renacci believes Congress has failed to address for decades.
“USAID is a perfect example of a government agency gone rogue—no oversight, no accountability, and no measurable results,” Renacci stated. “It’s time to tear it down and start over.”
The Solution: Dismantle and Rebuild
When asked what should be done about USAID, Renacci was unequivocal: the agency needs to be dismantled. Rather than continuing to fund a broken system, he called for shutting down USAID entirely and replacing it with a leaner, more accountable system that ensures taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and in America’s interest.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t provide aid where it’s needed, but we need to fundamentally rethink how we do it,” Renacci explained. “If the goal is truly humanitarian aid, then let’s build something transparent, efficient, and directly accountable to the American people—not another bloated bureaucracy riddled with fraud.”
Will Congress Act?
Renacci acknowledged that taking a wrecking ball to USAID won’t be easy, given the entrenched interests that profit from its inefficiency. However, he called on Congress to stop turning a blind eye and start demanding serious reforms.
“Every politician claims to be against wasteful government spending—well, here’s a prime example,” Renacci said. “If we can’t shut down an agency this corrupt and dysfunctional, then what can we fix?”
Final Thoughts: A Test of Political Will
By the end of the interview, Renacci had made it clear: USAID is beyond repair, and Congress must act. The conversation with Mike Baker wasn’t just about calling out corruption—it was a wake-up call for Americans who are tired of watching their tax dollars disappear into the abyss of government waste.
Renacci left listeners with a stark
