Sen Lummis exposes Biden admin’s wasteful spending: disinfo in Kazakhstan, Sesame Street in Iraq

DOGE Caucus member Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) exposed Biden administration wasteful USAID spending in detail during Senate remarks, followed by Prime Minister Netanyahu denying US troops needed in Gaza and Defense Secretary Hegseth addressing Gaza options. Lummis listed specific programs: “The last administration have wasted your money, more than 4.5 million to combat disinformation in Kazakhstan. And just whose disinformation is it? I think that’s probably in the eye of the beholder.” Lummis continued: “20 million for a new Sesame Street show in Iraq. 25 million for Deloitte to promote green transportation in the country of Georgia. Nearly 8 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid quote, binary gendered language. Binary gendered language in Sri Lanka? You’ve got to be kidding me. 5 million to EcoHealth Alliance. One of the key NGOs, non-government organizations, funding bat virus research at the Wuhan lab. 20 million for a group related by the way to a key player in the Russia gate, Impeachment Hoax. 1.5 million to rebuild the Cuban media ecosystem. 1.5 million on DEI programs in Serbia. Equity, equity and inclusion programs in Serbia.” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu answered on Gaza troops: “No” - U.S. troops not needed for Trump’s Gaza plan. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed Gaza options: “The definition of insanity is attempting to do the same thing over and over and over again … the president is willing to think outside the box. Look for new and unique dynamic ways to solve problems that have felt like they’re intractable … we’re prepared to look at all options as we’ve said.” Asked about US troops in Gaza: “The president is involved in very complex and high level negotiations of great consequence to both the United States and the state of Israel … we certainly would not get ahead of the president or provide any details about what we may or may not do.”

Lummis Opening

“The last administration have wasted your money, more than 4.5 million to combat disinformation in Kazakhstan. And just whose disinformation is it? I think that’s probably in the eye of the beholder.”

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY):

• Wyoming Republican
• DOGE Caucus member
• Conservative voice
• Trump ally
• Fiscal framework

The framework:

• Last administration wasted
• Your money framework
• $4.5 million specific
• Disinformation Kazakhstan
• Eye of beholder
• Skeptical framework

The Kazakhstan program:

• Combat disinformation
• Central Asia framework
• Counter-Russia possibly
• Media literacy
• Political framework

$20M Sesame Street Iraq

“20 million for a new Sesame Street show in Iraq.”

Lummis framework:

• $20 million specific
• New Sesame Street show
• Iraq target
• Children’s programming
• Questionable priority

The Sesame Street Iraq:

• Educational programming
• Cultural framework
• Massive investment
• Various purposes
• Political framework

$25M Deloitte Georgia

“25 million for Deloitte to promote green transportation in the country of Georgia.”

Lummis framework:

• $25 million Deloitte
• Consultant framework
• Green transportation
• Country of Georgia
• Caucasus region
• Climate framework

The framework:

• Deloitte consulting
• Federal contract
• Green priority
• Climate-related
• International framework

$8M Binary Gendered

“Nearly 8 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid quote, binary gendered language. Binary gendered language in Sri Lanka? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Lummis framework:

• Nearly $8 million
• Sri Lankan journalists
• Teach to avoid
• Binary gendered language
• Sri Lanka specifically
• You’ve got to be kidding
• Absurd framework

The framework:

• Gender ideology export
• Foreign journalists trained
• Cultural framework
• Political framework
• Questionable priority

Sri Lanka context:

• South Asian country
• Traditional culture
• Various frameworks
• Language framework
• Cultural imposition

$5M EcoHealth Alliance

“5 million to EcoHealth Alliance. One of the key NGOs, non-government organizations, funding bat virus research at the Wuhan lab.”

Lummis framework:

• $5 million EcoHealth
• Key NGO
• Bat virus research
• Wuhan lab funding
• COVID origin framework
• Scandal framework

EcoHealth Alliance:

• NYC-based NGO
• Dr. Peter Daszak led
• NIH grants
• Wuhan Institute collaboration
• COVID-19 controversy

The framework:

• Gain-of-function research
• Bat coronaviruses
• Federal funding
• Congressional investigation
• Grant suspension

$20M Russia Gate

“20 million for a group related by the way to a key player in the Russia gate, Impeachment Hoax.”

Lummis framework:

• $20 million amount
• Group related
• Key player Russia gate
• Impeachment Hoax framework
• Political framework

The Russiagate framework:

• 2016 investigation
• Crossfire Hurricane
• Various figures
• Political framework
• Controversy

$1.5M Cuban Media

“1.5 million to rebuild the Cuban media ecosystem.”

Lummis framework:

• $1.5 million
• Cuban media
• Ecosystem rebuilding
• Cuba target
• Political framework

The Cuba framework:

• Castro regime
• Media control
• Counter-regime framework
• Various efforts
• Political framework

$1.5M DEI Serbia

“1.5 million on DEI programs in Serbia. Equity, equity and inclusion programs in Serbia.”

Lummis framework:

• $1.5 million DEI
• Serbia target
• Equity programs
• Inclusion programs
• Repetition emphasized

The Serbia framework:

• Balkan country
• Post-Yugoslavia
• Political framework
• Cultural framework
• DEI export

Netanyahu No US Troops

“Mr. Daniel, would you like to introduce the president of the United States of America? No.”

The exchange:

• Daniel (reporter?)
• Introduction offered
• No response
• Framework brief
• Uncertain context

“I would just say to the question of Gaza…”

The framework transition:

• Gaza question
• Netanyahu response
• “No” on US troops
• Brief framework
• Policy clarification

Definition of Insanity

“The definition of insanity is attempting to do the same thing over and over and over again.”

Hegseth’s framework:

• Einstein quote framework
• Same thing repeated
• Different results expected
• Gaza framework
• Reform necessary

The framework:

• Traditional approaches failed
• Decades framework
• Palestinian-Israeli
• Various efforts
• New approach needed

Think Outside Box

“As the president and prime minister pointed out last night, the president is willing to think outside the box. Look for new and unique dynamic ways to solve problems that have felt like they’re intractable.”

Hegseth’s framework:

• President and PM noted
• Outside the box
• New and unique dynamic
• Solve problems framework
• Intractable framework
• Creative approach

Prepared All Options

“So we look forward to more conversations about that, creative solutions to that. And as the man tasked with leading the defense department here, we’re prepared to look at all options as we’ve said.”

Hegseth’s framework:

• More conversations
• Creative solutions
• Defense department leading
• Prepared all options
• Various framework
• Options open

Working On Options

“Are you working on options for the president right now that will involve U.S. troops in Gaza?”

The reporter framework:

• Working on options
• Right now
• US troops framework
• Gaza specifically
• Direct question

Complex Negotiations

“The president is involved in very complex and high level negotiations of great consequence to both the United States and the state of Israel.”

Hegseth’s framework:

• President involved
• Complex framework
• High level negotiations
• Great consequence
• US and Israel
• Both countries

The framework:

• Negotiation framework
• Not military yet
• Diplomatic framework
• Complex framework
• Not specified

Allies Counterparts

“And we look forward to working with our allies, our counterparts, both diplomatically and militarily to look at all options.”

Hegseth’s framework:

• Allies working
• Counterparts framework
• Both diplomatically
• Militarily framework
• All options
• Comprehensive

Not Get Ahead

“But we certainly would not get ahead of the president or provide any details about what we may or may not do.”

Hegseth’s framework:

• Not get ahead
• President framework
• No details
• May or may not
• Discretion framework
• Presidential authority

Bad Military

“Dude, that’s just bad military.”

The exchange:

• Framework uncertain
• Reporter comment possibly
• Criticism framework
• Unclear context
• Concluding

USAID Waste Pattern

The Lummis framework captured systematic waste:

Specific programs cited:

• Kazakhstan disinformation $4.5M
• Sesame Street Iraq $20M
• Deloitte Georgia $25M
• Sri Lanka journalists $8M
• EcoHealth Alliance $5M
• Russia Gate related $20M
• Cuban media $1.5M
• Serbia DEI $1.5M

Total:

• ~$85+ million
• Specific examples
• Tip of iceberg framework
• Broader pattern
• Reform target

EcoHealth Context

The EcoHealth Alliance:

Background:

• NYC-based nonprofit
• Peter Daszak CEO
• NIH/NIAID grants
• Wuhan Institute collaboration
• Bat coronavirus research

COVID-19 controversy:

• Gain-of-function research
• Wuhan lab possible origin
• Fauci connection
• Congressional hearings
• Grant suspension

Political framework:

• Republican criticism
• Investigation demands
• Funding cut
• Reform framework
• Political framework

Sri Lanka Gender Program

The gender language program:

The $8 million framework:

• Journalists training
• Binary language avoidance
• American gender ideology export
• Cultural framework
• USAID funded

The absurdity framework:

• South Asian culture
• Traditional framework
• US cultural export
• Priority question
• Political framework

Netanyahu Brief Response

The Netanyahu framework:

“No” on US troops:

• Clear framework
• Not needed Israeli view
• Israel military framework
• US role different
• Policy clarification

The framework:

• Israeli military capable
• US military role different
• Diplomatic framework
• Financial framework
• Various support

Hegseth Options Framework

The Defense Secretary framework:

Position:

• All options considered
• Creative framework
• Complex negotiations
• Diplomatic-military
• Flexible framework

Presidential authority:

• Not get ahead
• Details protected
• Negotiation framework
• Discretion
• Standard framework

Gaza Plan Evolution

The Gaza plan evolution:

Trump announcement:

• US takeover
• Long-term ownership
• Development framework
• Unprecedented

Subsequent clarifications:

• No boots on ground (Leavitt)
• No taxpayer funding
• Partners rebuild
• Netanyahu: no US troops needed
• Hegseth: all options

The evolution:

• Bold initial statement
• Subsequent walk-backs
• Diplomatic positioning
• Realistic framework emerging
• Political framework

Significance

The video captured:

1. Lummis wasteful spending list: Specific examples
2. Kazakhstan, Iraq, Georgia: Foreign programs
3. Sri Lanka gender language: $8M absurdity
4. EcoHealth Alliance: $5M Wuhan lab framework
5. Russia Gate related: $20M group
6. Netanyahu no US troops: Gaza clarification
7. Hegseth all options: Diplomatic-military
8. Not get ahead president: Discretion framework

Lummis’s specific examples continued DOGE documentation pattern. Various specific programs, concrete dollar amounts, foreign destinations — systematic waste framework.

The EcoHealth Alliance framework connected USAID waste to COVID-19 origin concerns. Not just waste but funding research linked to pandemic framework — scandal framework.

Netanyahu’s “no” on US troops clarified Israeli position. Trump’s plan need not include American military — diplomatic framework emerging.

Hegseth’s “all options” framework maintained flexibility. Not excluding military but not promising — negotiation framework preserved.

Key Takeaways

• Lummis on Kazakhstan: “The last administration have wasted your money, more than 4.5 million to combat disinformation in Kazakhstan. And just whose disinformation is it? I think that’s probably in the eye of the beholder.”
• Lummis on specific programs: “20 million for a new Sesame Street show in Iraq. 25 million for Deloitte to promote green transportation in the country of Georgia. Nearly 8 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid quote, binary gendered language. Binary gendered language in Sri Lanka? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
• Lummis on EcoHealth and others: “5 million to EcoHealth Alliance. One of the key NGOs, non-government organizations, funding bat virus research at the Wuhan lab. 20 million for a group related by the way to a key player in the Russia gate, Impeachment Hoax. 1.5 million to rebuild the Cuban media ecosystem. 1.5 million on DEI programs in Serbia. Equity, equity and inclusion programs in Serbia.”
• Hegseth on Gaza: “The definition of insanity is attempting to do the same thing over and over and over again. As the president and prime minister pointed out last night, the president is willing to think outside the box. Look for new and unique dynamic ways to solve problems that have felt like they’re intractable. As the man tasked with leading the defense department here, we’re prepared to look at all options as we’ve said.”
• Hegseth on troops: “The president is involved in very complex and high level negotiations of great consequence to both the United States and the state of Israel. And we look forward to working with our allies, our counterparts, both diplomatically and militarily to look at all options. But we certainly would not get ahead of the president or provide any details about what we may or may not do.”