‘What do you say?’: CNN host challenges Dem rep on ‘taxpayer money’ going to questionable programs abroad

CNN anchor Pamela Brown questioned Democratic California Rep. Ted Lieu on Wednesday about American taxpayer funds going toward questionable initiatives abroad.

Brown said on “CNN Newsroom” that her network confirmed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cut “gender-affirming health care in Guatemala, teaching people in Kazakhstan to fight back against internet trolls, voluntary male circumcisions in Mozambique, creating work opportunities for young LGBTQI+ people in Serbia.” She asked Lieu if he supports American taxpayers funding these programs, but he did not offer a direct response.

WATCH:

“Are these things that you think taxpayer money from the U.S., U.S. taxpayer money, should be spent on? And how do you think taxpayers knew their money was going to these causes?” Brown asked.

“So, happy to have a discussion on the funding of [U.S. Agency for International Development] USAID and what some of these programs are going to, but what the administration cannot do is randomly freeze the funding to all these programs that Congress has already appropriated,” Lieu answered. “That’s why we have an entire appropriations process. And it’s also simply wrong that they’re making these cuts to somehow help Americans. They’re making these cuts to give billions of dollars of tax breaks to billionaires.”

Lieu asserted Republicans “passed a budget out of committee last week” that provides “trillions of dollars … in tax breaks to the super-wealthy.”

Brown pushed back, saying numerous Americans support President Donald Trump’s agenda to boost government efficiency.

“But Republicans and many Americans, and I hear from them a lot, say, ‘Look, I know Democrats say that this is going to help with tax cuts to billionaires, but Democrats have been saying for years, going back to President Clinton, we’re going to make the government more efficient. We’re going to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse.’ And in their view, they’re looking at all of this and they’re applauding it,” Brown said. “They’re saying, ‘Finally, someone is doing something about this and they’re moving fast.’”

A CBS News poll released on Feb. 9 found that Trump holds a 53% approval rating, his highest ever across both of his terms, as 70% believe the president has followed through on his campaign pledges. Nearly 60% of Americans support Trump’s agenda to deport illegal immigrants and 54% approve of his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the poll.

“‘And sometimes you have to do that and mistakes will be made. But finally, they’re getting rid of some of the waste. And wow, I can’t believe this is what my taxpayer dollars are going to,’ including some of those programs I mentioned,” she continued. “What do you say to all those Americans?”

Lieu responded by touting his support for eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse.” He also said administrations on both sides of the aisle have had similar agendas.

“But they would argue it hasn’t had the impact,” Brown retorted.

“Oh, the impact is it’s gonna give big tax breaks to billionaires,” Lieu said. “That’s exactly what the Republican budget does.”

DOGE has cut an estimated $55 billion dollars in government spending thus far, according to its website. USAID also funded sex change operations in Guatemala, a Sesame Street show in Iraq, and the distribution of over 65 million condoms abroad.

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