The rot runs deep in Washington, D.C. It needs to be rooted out.
And now federal bureaucrats have pled guilty for a horrific crime thanks to Trump.
USAID Bribery Scandal Vindicates Trump’s DOGE Cuts
A sprawling bribery scandal at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has come to light, with a federal contracting officer and three businessmen pleading guilty in a $550 million scheme, as reported by Fox News’ Mike Emanuel on June 20.
Roderick Watson, 57, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to accepting over $1 million in bribes, including cash, NBA suite tickets, and a country club wedding, per a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release.
The scandal validates President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which slashed USAID’s programs by 83% and exposed waste, such as $1.5 million for a Serbian DEI program and funds linked to al-Qaeda’s Anwar al-Awlaki, per Fox News Digital.
Trump’s decisive action, including zero illegal immigrant releases in May, per The Post, continues to root out corruption, saving American taxpayers billions.
Details of the Corrupt Scheme
From 2013, Watson conspired with contractors Walter Barnes (Vistant) and Darryl Britt (Apprio), who funneled bribes through subcontractor Paul Young, using shell companies, false invoices, and fake payroll entries, per the DOJ.
Vistant, awarded an $800 million contract in November 2023 to address Central American migration—a priority under then-Vice President Kamala Harris—was later excluded from contracting due to integrity issues, per USAID’s notice.
After suing, Vistant regained the contract in August 2024 with a $10,000 payment, per court records. “Corruption in government programs will not be tolerated,” said USAID-OIG’s Sean Bottary, emphasizing accountability.
The scandal, detailed by The Hill on June 19, highlights why Trump’s DOGE moved vital USAID functions to the State Department, ensuring aid reaches intended recipients without fraud.
Democrats’ Misplaced Outrage Over USAID Cuts
As DOGE dismantled USAID in February 2025, shutting its website and placing staff on leave, Democrats protested, with figures like U2’s Bono claiming cuts would cause 300,000 deaths, per The Hill.
House and Senate Democrats rallied outside USAID’s headquarters, decrying layoffs, yet ignored the agency’s mismanagement, like the $70,000 DEI musical in Ireland, per Breitbart.
The bribery scandal proves Trump’s foresight, aligning with his broader anti-waste agenda, including a 95% drop in border “gotaways” per CBP in February.
Matthew R. Galeotti of the DOJ’s Criminal Division stated, “Anybody who cares about good and effective government should be concerned about the waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies.”
