U.S. Taxpayer Funds Under Scrutiny: Senator Kennedy Highlights $3 Million for Iraqi 'Sesame Street' and Zambian Health Initiatives

Washington, D.C. – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) has drawn attention to several U.S. taxpayer-funded international programs, citing specific expenditures including $3 million for an Iraqi version of "Sesame Street" and an equal amount for circumcisions and vasectomies in Zambia. The revelations, which Senator Kennedy shared on social media, are part of a broader push by the Trump administration and its allies to scrutinize and reduce what they term "wasteful" government spending.

In a recent tweet, Senator Kennedy stated, > "TUNE IN: Sesame Street in Iraq among the MILLIONS of American taxpayer expenditures, Sen. Kennedy reveals. Zambian circumcisions and vasectomies: $3,000,000 Sesame Street in Iraq: $3,000,000 Even money for male prostitute 'dance focus groups.'"

The program referred to as "Sesame Street in Iraq" is "Ahlan Simsim" (Welcome Sesame), an early childhood development initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with a grant of approximately $20 million. This initiative aims to provide educational content and humanitarian support to children in the Middle East, particularly those displaced by conflict, and includes a television show alongside direct healthcare outreach.

The $3 million allocated for circumcisions and vasectomies in Zambia falls under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a global initiative designed to combat HIV/AIDS. These health programs are part of broader efforts to promote public health and prevent disease in developing nations.

Senator Kennedy's concerns extend to other programs, including $3.6 million reportedly spent on "free pastry-cooking classes, cyber cafés and 'dance focus groups'" for male prostitutes in Haiti. These expenditures have become focal points in the ongoing debate over the allocation of foreign aid and the priorities of U.S. international development efforts.

The scrutiny of USAID spending has intensified under the Trump administration, which, alongside figures like Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is seeking to identify and cut billions in federal funding. While critics like Senator Joni Ernst label these programs as "wasteful," proponents, such as Representative Chris Coons, argue that such initiatives serve as crucial forms of soft power, promoting U.S. interests and values while addressing humanitarian needs. The administration has initiated rescission requests to Congress, aiming to permanently halt some of these previously appropriated funds.