Democratic Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett warned Thursday that drastic cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) could heighten the risk of another 9/11-style attack on American soil.
Her comments come as President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing foreign aid remains a talking point, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advocates for dismantling USAID over misallocations.
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In an interview on Jamal Bryant’s podcast, “Let’s Be Clear,” Crockett asserted that USAID’s “soft power” — its diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid — plays a crucial role in preventing international animosity from escalating into direct threats against the United States.
“One of the reasons people haven’t been flying planes into buildings in the United States is because of our soft power,” Crockett explained to Bryant. “It’s because of the diplomacy that we were doing, where we were building relationships, where people would look at us and say, ‘The Americans are good people.’ Because when we spend money to get medicine in their country, it don’t cost what it costs here. It costs pennies. That was helping to keep us safe here.”
Crockett accused those in power of deliberately creating a “scarcity mindset” to distract the public from larger budgetary issues. She highlighted that USAID’s budget constitutes less than 1% of total federal spending, calling the focus on it a diversion.
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“They want you to focus on pennies… they wanted you to focus on that and be distracted so you wouldn’t ask questions about the other 99.5% of the budget—about the money that’s going to Elon,” Crockett stated, referencing defense contracts.
The Congresswoman drew a sharp contrast between cuts to foreign aid and significant increases in defense spending. She criticized a trillion-dollar increase in military expenditures while, she claimed, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are slated to receive substantial bonuses and welfare programs for needy Americans face cuts.
Crockett’s reference to ICE agent bonuses stems from discussions around proposed legislation. While the “Big Beautiful Bill” does allocate $858 million for signing and retention bonuses for ICE staff and $8 billion to hire 10,000 new officers by 2029, this funding is intended to support hiring and retention over several years and does not translate to $42,000 bonuses for each existing agent.
Crockett urged the public to resist divisive political tactics, emphasizing that allowing politicians to “cherry-pick” issues like LGBTQIA+ rights, abortion, or immigration can ultimately jeopardize broader freedoms.
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“Don’t let them play you. Don’t let them divide you… If you allow them to cherry-pick you, then, at the end of the day, something that you do care about—one of the freedoms that you do hold dear—is going to be under attack,” she warned. “Our fates are interlinked.”
While Crockett argues the importance of diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in national security, it is important to note that USAID accounted for only 0.3% of total federal spending in fiscal year 2024. The direct link between its reduction and a heightened risk of 9/11-style attacks remains unsubstantiated by evidence.
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Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett Says USAID Cuts Could Lead To Another 9/11 – Tampa Free Press
