U.S. Freezes $50M Gaza Condom Funding Amid Foreign Aid Review

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. State Department has paused $50 million in funding earmarked for condom distribution in Gaza as part of a broader review of foreign aid programs, a White House official confirmed Tuesday. The decision follows President Donald Trump‘s executive order to realign foreign assistance with national priorities.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the funding freeze during her first press briefing, calling the allocation “a preposterous waste of taxpayer money.” The funds were part of a larger $37 million package intended for global health initiatives, including support for the World Health Organization (WHO), which the U.S. recently withdrew from.

The pause comes amid concerns that condoms have been used in Gaza to create incendiary devices. In 2020, reports surfaced that Palestinians were attaching explosive materials to inflated condoms and plastic bags, which were then carried by wind into southern Israel, causing significant damage to farmland and infrastructure.

“This is about being good stewards of tax dollars,” Leavitt told reporters. “If the activity is not in conflict with the President’s priorities, it will continue with no issues.”

The State Department’s review, initiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to ensure that foreign aid aligns with the “America First” agenda. A department spokesperson emphasized that the pause is part of a broader effort to evaluate whether U.S. assistance makes the country “safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

Meanwhile, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA) have criticized the move, arguing that it undermines sexual and reproductive healthcare in Gaza. “Palestinians are systematically denied these rights,” said the PFPPA executive director in a statement.

The funding freeze has also sparked internal scrutiny at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where at least 56 employees were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into alleged efforts to circumvent Trump’s executive orders. Acting USAID Administrator Jason Gray described the actions as “designed to thwart the President’s mandate.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.