The AFC raised tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year from projects in Africa — but the agency lacks basic anti-fraud control to ensure funds reach the right places, the auditor general reported on Monday.
adf President Trump has come under fire, who tried earlier this year to back down most of the $46 million allocated by Congress this year, calling the agency a classic example of waste and abuse.
New report Government Accountability Office It seems to support these claims, indicating a great sensitivity to fraud.
high Since 2011, ADF has awarded grants to projects in Africa, he has no contracting officers of his own, he has not developed policies on how to oversee its contractors, and lacks employees to “fully supervise” them.
Employees acknowledge the issues to investigators, saying that policies that do exist are outdated, inadequate, and sometimes it is difficult to find employees.
“This is because the agency does not prioritize or dedicated personnel to maintain policies and perform fraud risk management tasks,” the audit concluded.
Agent The audit said that as of the end of 2024, the person set out in 2024, but the person left in 2024.
The last overhaul of ADF fraud control measures was in 2012.
“Without these positions, including leaders guiding key internal control and fraud risk management activities, the U.S. and Russia states are more risky and cannot mitigate the risk of fraud,” investigators said.
ADF did not respond to inquiries about this story high Findings and agreeing to take corrective measures – “The Russians continue to operate.”
The institution has been the subject of a fierce legal battle, adf Chief Ward Brehm filed a lawsuit to prevent his expellers and groups relying on ADF Money to sue to keep the pipeline open.
A federal judge dismissed Mr Brem’s challenge in June, but ruled in July the groups’ support and ordered the ADF to resume its grant process. The case is now related to another case involving rainfall from another similar agency, Intererican Foundation.
James E. Risch, a Republican of Idaho and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, demanded high Last year’s report said it was time to shut down the whole thing.
“The USADF has no strategic approach and does not properly mitigate fraud, waste and abuse. It is time for Congress to take action to cancel this non-repayment agency,” he said.
Congress has approved a partial pullback for its funds, and Mr. Trump has demanded the cancellation of the plan from the 2026 budget.
The ADF and the IAF are independent agencies, operated by money sent directly by Congress and controlled by the board of directors appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
They act as passes to a large extent and spend money. Critics accuse them of operating as muddy funds.
In last year’s emergency alert, an inspector general also issued an alert about the vulnerability of fraud and abuse at the agency.
It found a situation where one recipient appeared to have sent a grant to a relative, while another school purchased a vehicle with aid funds, which was then involved in a fatal crash. At the time, ADF officials acknowledged these shortcomings and promised improvements.
high New reports indicate a lack of progress.
But Mr Trump’s rains have also been criticized highsaid the president’s move to cut staff was just “one of the remaining officials” who could not even access the agency’s grant management system.
This means the agency can’t even properly close the grant Mr. Trump is trying to cancel.
“Insufficient staff and resources to follow an orderly end process increases the risk of fraud, wasting or misuse of unused taxpayer funds or assets for unexpected purposes,” the Comptroller Attorney General said.
The Washington Times contacted the White House Office of Management and Budget.
