In a bombshell hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs this February, conservative firebrand Rep. Thomas Massie and investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger exposed shocking allegations that the taxpayer-funded U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) engaged in what Massie described as “borderline treason.”
The hearing, aptly titled “Eliminating Waste by the Foreign Aid Bureaucracy,” pulled back the curtain on the sprawling abuses and hidden agendas within USAID—an organization many Americans thought was solely focused on humanitarian aid abroad. Instead, Shellenberger revealed that USAID has played a central role in orchestrating politically motivated media campaigns that directly impacted the 2020 election and the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.
Most explosively, Shellenberger detailed how USAID funneled funding and control into organizations like the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) — a so-called investigative news group that turns out to be little more than an extension of government propaganda. According to Shellenberger, the OCCRP was deeply intertwined with USAID’s agenda, with a USAID official admitting on German television that the agency approved OCCRP’s annual work plans and key personnel hires.
Why does this matter? Because OCCRP was behind fabricated stories, including one targeting Rudy Giuliani and Ukrainian businessmen. This fake story became a cornerstone of the Democrat-led impeachment effort against Trump, cited repeatedly by the whistleblower who helped launch the impeachment proceedings.
Schellenberger didn’t mince words, telling the committee:
“It appears that CIA, USAID, and OCCRP were all involved in the impeachment of President Trump in ways similar to regime change operations they carry out overseas. The difference is, it’s illegal—bordering on treason—for these agencies to interfere in U.S. domestic politics.”
That last point struck a nerve with Rep. Massie, who later emphasized the gravity of the situation:
“USAID funded an organization that fabricated evidence used to impeach President Trump. The Deep State often funds regime change abroad, but when taxpayer money is weaponized to undermine our own government, isn’t that treason?”
The implications are staggering. An agency funded by hardworking American taxpayers—purportedly dedicated to foreign aid—is instead financing shadowy political warfare campaigns on U.S. soil. This blatant misuse of funds not only betrays the public trust but also raises urgent questions about the accountability and oversight of our government bureaucracies.
Furthermore, Shellenberger highlighted USAID’s involvement in online censorship campaigns, such as those that suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story, showing that this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of media manipulation and political interference.
This hearing was more than a mere political squabble—it was a call to action to rein in rogue agencies exploiting American resources to target political opponents and shape narratives. If true, these revelations expose a dangerous Deep State operation hiding in plain sight, funded by taxpayers and designed to sabotage lawful political processes.
With these accusations on the record, the question now is: will Congress hold USAID accountable, or will this sprawling web of corruption continue unchecked? The American people deserve transparency—and justice.
Watch the explosive testimony by Rep. Massie and Michael Shellenberger.
