In the ongoing battle over federal spending priorities, a new flashpoint has emerged: a $50 million allocation for condom distribution in Gaza—a claim made by the Trump administration and dismissed outright by Biden-era officials. The White House, led by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, insists the funding was flagged in Trump’s first week, thanks in part to Elon Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency. Critics, however, call the claim absurd and demand proof.
Leavitt made the assertion during her debut press conference, stating that the budget office, alongside Musk’s efficiency team, uncovered an imminent $50 million payout earmarked for condoms in Gaza. She wasted no time in condemning the expenditure as a “preposterous waste of taxpayer money.”
Palestinian PM Mohammad Mustafa arrived at the People’s Palace in Damascus and met with Ahmed Al-Sharaa, The head of the new Syrian administration.
This marks the first visit by a high-level Palestinian official to Syria in nearly two decades. pic.twitter.com/QEJAmx346V
— Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) January 28, 2025
It’s easy to see why this claim, if true, would spark outrage. With Gaza in ruins and global humanitarian needs stretching U.S. foreign aid thin, the notion that tens of millions in American tax dollars would be funneled into condom distribution rather than basic necessities is, at best, misguided policy—and at worst, an outright scandal.
Not surprisingly, former Biden officials and left-leaning media outlets quickly dismissed the claim as baseless. Andrew Miller, a former deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs under Biden, called it a “feverish dream” and suggested that the funding might have been earmarked for broader sexual health programs—which could include gynecology, maternal care, and family planning initiatives.
You may be wondering why Gaza would need $50 million worth of condoms.
It’s because they use condoms as weapons to fly explosives into Israel.
Biden was going to fund terrorism.
The Trump admin stopped it. pic.twitter.com/4oTYOw4O3P
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 28, 2025
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees much of this spending, did allocate $60 million in the last fiscal year for contraceptives worldwide—but the agency has yet to confirm whether the $50 million specifically for Gaza exists in its records.
Whether or not this exact funding line exists, Trump’s administration is making one thing clear: foreign aid spending is being completely reevaluated. The Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Musk, has been tasked with auditing previous budgets and uncovering misuse, inefficiencies, and outright waste in taxpayer-funded programs—something that should concern anyone who values fiscal responsibility.
Buying in bulk you can get condoms for 25 cents or less. This means the Biden administration could’ve sent ($50million × 4) 200 million condoms to Gaza. Only 2.1 million people live there. Half are kids and half are men. So that’s 200 million condoms for 500,000 dudes
400/man wtf— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) January 28, 2025
It’s worth noting that USAID and other federal agencies have a long history of funding projects that, while perhaps well-intended, lack accountability or fail to deliver meaningful results. The question isn’t whether some form of sexual health aid was budgeted for Gaza—it’s whether this kind of spending is an appropriate use of American taxpayer dollars in a time of war, economic strain, and shifting foreign policy priorities.
Expect this issue to remain in the spotlight as Musk’s efficiency team continues digging through past spending records. If the Trump administration produces hard evidence that $50 million was indeed earmarked for condoms in Gaza, it will raise serious questions about Biden-era priorities and oversight. If the claim turns out to be exaggerated or mischaracterized, then the administration will need to answer for why it ran with it so confidently.