White House says $50M for condoms in Gaza has been blocked

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - A review has halted some $50 million that was earmarked for the distribution of condoms in the besieged Gaza Strip, the White House said Tuesday.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget found "that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza," spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters during her inaugural press conference. "That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money."

Additional details were not immediately available.

The Trump administration has frozen nearly all foreign assistance programs for at least 90 days, sending shockwaves across the world as countries grapple with an abrupt halt to a range of programs funded by Washington, from development to humanitarian assistance. The US is the largest source of international assistance.