WASHINGTON: Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk, recently named by US President-elect Donald Trump as a potential head for the Department of Government Efficiency, expressed astonishment upon learning that US taxpayer money was being sent to Afghanistan.
Musk, who is set to lead a new government efficiency department in the incoming administration, tweeted his disbelief after former CBS journalist Lara Logan drew attention to the issue. Logan posted a letter from Republican lawmaker Tim Burchett, urging Trump to halt US aid to Afghanistan. The letter raised concerns that nearly $10 million of foreign aid was being directed to the Afghan Taliban in the form of taxes from non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
“Are we really sending US taxpayer money to the Taliban?” Musk asked, sharing his shock over the situation, which reflects growing frustration among conservatives regarding US foreign assistance.
In his letter dated January 2, 2025, Burchett voiced concerns that the US foreign aid was potentially benefitting the Taliban, who still control large parts of Afghanistan. The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported that the US remains the largest donor to Afghanistan, committing over $21 billion since the US military’s 2021 withdrawal.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul echoed Burchett’s concerns, calling for stricter oversight of US foreign aid to Afghanistan. He emphasized the need to prevent Taliban access to humanitarian aid, which is often channeled through NGOs or sent to Afghanistan’s central bank, where its use could be manipulated by the Taliban.
The issue has drawn criticism from conservative figures, with Musk’s comments fueling debate over the ethics of US foreign aid. Despite some controversies surrounding Logan’s associations, her concerns resonate with many in conservative circles, pushing the issue into the spotlight.
