The Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has ordered a review of U.S. Agency for International Development contracts and communications following the declassification of an intelligence summary from late 2022. The summary alleges that Ukrainian officials and U.S. personnel discussed using an infrastructure project in Ukraine as a vehicle to divert substantial American taxpayer funds — potentially as much as 90% of allocated amounts — toward the Democratic National Committee to support then-President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the plan reportedly involved creating layers of subcontracting through U.S. companies to obscure the ultimate destination and use of the funds. The intelligence intercepts suggested confidence that the project would initially receive funding, only to later be deemed unnecessary, at which point the money would already be committed and difficult to recover or redirect.
Director Gabbard has directed USAID to examine relevant contracts, payments, and internal records. Officials indicated that if credible evidence is uncovered, the matter could result in a criminal referral to the FBI. The declassified summary does not claim that the alleged scheme was successfully executed, nor has any evidence been publicly presented confirming that funds were actually diverted in this manner.
The intercepts, collected by U.S. intelligence agencies, reportedly did not appear to receive significant follow-up within the government at the time. Officials familiar with the document stated that the information does not appear to stem from Russian disinformation efforts.
The allegations surface at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Ukraine relations, as President Donald Trump’s administration engages in negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia. Ukraine has long faced international scrutiny over corruption issues, even as it has received billions in American assistance.
Separately, President Trump commented over the weekend on Director Gabbard’s positions, noting that she holds a somewhat softer stance than he does regarding the prevention of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump stated he maintains confidence in Gabbard despite the policy nuance, saying “she’s a little bit different in her thought process than me, but that doesn’t make so
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