Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States inside the Rotunda of the US Capitol (File Image)
In yet another episode of “let’s save a few bucks by freezing foreign aid,” the Trump administration has officially halted all foreign aid, including a cool $50 million dedicated to… wait for it… “condoms in Gaza.” Guess it’s time to cut the fluff and ensure that our spending aligns with what every middle-class American truly yearns for: budgetary constraints that extend even to contraceptives across the globe.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, sounding remarkably like an accountant who just discovered a typo in the budget spreadsheet, dubbed this funding “preposterous”. Because, of course, ensuring family planning resources in conflict zones obviously ranks below funding for things like tax cuts or the latest golf courses. “We must be good stewards of American Dollars,” she declared, prompting many to wonder if that included maintaining golf course green fees.
Thanks to an executive order, all grants, loans, and federally-assisted programs are hitting the brakes until some mysterious “review” is completed. And yes, Ukraine is part of this nationwide game of freeze tag, but luckily, Israel and Egypt get a cozy exemption. Apparently, we can’t let them run out of weapons, but family planning in Gaza? That’s just too much luxury.
Meanwhile, a little birdie—or perhaps a balloon—told us that back in 2020, The Jerusalem Post reported a curious misuse of these condoms: Hamas was allegedly converting them into IED-carrying balloons. Apparently, the latest strategy in aerial warfare is less about advanced technology and more about what you find in the local pharmacy. Dozens of IEDs have floated into southern Israel, costing millions in damages and turning peaceful meadows into war zones. Talk about inflation!
Leavitt echoed the sentiment that halting these funds is a majestic victory for frugality. “That’s a preposterous waste of taxpayer money,” she proclaimed, while perhaps secretly wishing for a nice taxpayer-funded vacation to a sunny beach where the rules about fiscal responsibility don’t apply. But make no mistake, this isn’t just a money-saving strategy; oh no! This is a well-planned, revolutionary “pause” to match federal spending to the ‘priorities of the American people’—like ensuring our fast-food chains stay stocked with the double cheeseburgers we so richly deserve.
Oh, but wait! Here comes the plot twist: the previous administration, under Biden’s reign of terror (for budget-haters, apparently), had earmarked funds for a condom distribution program in Gaza. What a novel concept! However, none of this seemed to have actual evidence backing it up. In fact, a former senior Biden official casually waved it off as a “feverish dream.” Sounds like someone misses nap time.
So here we are, witnessing the great condom caper unfold as the Trump administration tries to align federal funding with the everyday concerns of the average American. Spoiler alert: this doesn’t include spending on anything that could reasonably prevent unintended consequences—like, y’know, balloons turning into lethal IEDs. So grab your popcorn; this fiscal theater is just getting warmed up!