PHILADELPHIA – February 26, 2025 – Today, at the invitation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum (MEF), called on Congress to launch a criminal investigation of federal officials and charity leaders who knowingly dispensed foreign aid to terror-linked organizations. Following Mr. Roman’s testimony, Rep. Greene pledged to consider filing “criminal referrals” to the Department of Justice.
“This committee, based on this hearing and witness testimonies, will consider recommending investigations and criminal referrals,” Rep. Green said.
The hearing came on the heels of an MEF report from Sam Westrop, director of Islamist Watch, exposing terror finance at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The multi-year study was the result of MEF research and advocacy seeking USAID reform and going back to the Obama administration. Roman warned that over $164 million in approved grants—$122 million of which ended up supporting radical and terror-tied organizations—were funneled through USAID’s foreign aid program. This includes entities linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda affiliates.
“It’s not just about fraud, waste, or abuse,” said Roman. “It’s a threat to American national security, and potentially criminal, and this committee should take action to ensure that the Department of Justice acts on it and does everything in Congress’s power to not just investigate, but to refer criminal actions to the proper authorities.”
Roman noted today that “a private citizen can’t do this, but if the government wants to give money to a terrorist organization [currently, through USAID], it’s okay.”
Key Points from Roman’s Testimony:
- World Vision & the Islamic Relief Agency: In 2014, World Vision, a major evangelical NGO, facilitated a $125,000 sub-grant to the Islamic Relief Agency, an entity with connections to Al-Qaeda’s predecessor group. Despite a whistleblower’s alert, USAID continued funding. “Even after a whistleblower raised red flags, USAID rammed through the funding,” said Roman.
- Helping Hand for Relief and Development: This NGO received a $70,000 grant from USAID in 2021, despite its connections to the terrorist responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Inspector General had already initiated an investigation into prior grants to this same group.
- Jammal Trust Bank (Lebanon): Funds were funneled to this Lebanese bank, which was later designated for financing Hezbollah, a designated terrorist group. This shows the systemic failures in USAID’s oversight process.
- Bayader & Unlimited Friends Association (UFA): Ties to senior Hamas figures allegedly involved in the October 7 attacks against Israel, with explicit calls for violent “cleansing” against Jews.
- Masking the Money Trail: USAID’s foreign aid system has been opaque, with billions of dollars classified as “miscellaneous foreign awardees,” making it nearly impossible to track the final recipients—some of whom have included Al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria.
Roman also criticized the weak vetting and oversight mechanisms at USAID, which he argued contribute to the misallocation of funds and compromise U.S. security. He emphasized the need for reform, stating, “It’s been festering under multiple administrations, and it goes beyond who’s in the Oval Office.”
Roman proposed a call to action to prevent further harm:
- Immediate Pause and Audit: Suspend new obligations until a thorough audit can scrub grantees and sub-grantees, especially in high-risk regions.
- Stronger Vetting & Transparency: Introduce public vetting, real-time tracking technologies, and require full disclosure of all partners and sub-grantees.
- Legislative Action: Urge Congress to pass laws that mandate stronger penalties, full transparency, and real-time oversight of USAID’s foreign aid programs.
- Preserve & Follow the Inspector General’s Lead: Ensure the State Department, under Secretary Rubio’s review, fully adopts any IG recommendations. “No more burying or ignoring the warnings,” said Roman.
- Criminal Referral: Make a formal request for the Department of Justice to investigate whether USAID officials and partnering NGOs knowingly facilitated material support to terrorist entities.
Roman urged policymakers to take decisive action before the damage to national security becomes irreversible. “Every dollar that buys a bomb instead of a blanket is a betrayal of those we aim to help.”
In her closing remarks, Rep. Green acknowledged the urgency behind the problem, promising ”if USAID funded terrorism that resulted in the death of Americans, then this committee will be making criminal referrals.”
The Middle East Forum, a non-profit organization, promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western civilization from Islamism. It does so through a combination of original ideas and focused activism. For more information, visit www.meforum.org.
For Immediate Release:
For more information, contact:
Gregg Roman
Email: roman@meforum.org
Phone: +1 (215) 546-5406
