\n<\/p>\n
Senator Chuck Grassley is concerned that World Vision International may have funded terrorism with US taxpayers\u2019 money.<\/p>\n
The long-serving legislator from Iowa sent the Christian humanitarian aid organization a letter<\/a> last month asking for answers to a number of questions about funding, current programs, and accountability. World Vision received $491 million from US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cCongress and the American people deserve transparency with respect to the steps World Vision has taken to ensure taxpayer money is used as intended and not for illegal activity,\u201d Grassley wrote. \u201cPlease provide answers.\u201d<\/p>\n The humanitarian organization told CT that it sent a reply to Grassley on September 9. On the larger point, the group is unequivocal: \u201cWorld Vision does not support any form of terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n The senator\u2019s inquiry comes a year after a World Vision employee was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Israel. According to prosecutors, the former director of aid to Gaza diverted $50 million meant for hungry children and farmers to Hamas, which the US State Department has designated a terrorist organization. Little of the evidence used to convict Mohammed el-Halabi was made available to the public, beyond a confession that Halabi\u2019s lawyers say was coerced. Four United Nations experts raised concerns about what they called \u201cegregious\u201d violations of Halabi\u2019s right to a fair trial.<\/p>\n World Vision continues to defend the former Gaza aid director. The organization says his conviction was unjust and the Israeli court\u2019s ruling is \u201cin sharp contrast to the evidence and facts of the case.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2016, the humanitarian aid organization commissioned an independent audit of the aid to Gaza and found no irregularities. Investigations by USAID and the Australian and German governments came to the same conclusions, turning up no evidence to support the allegations against Halabi.<\/p>\n \u201cThe investigation did not find even a hint of funds being diverted to Hamas or any schemes or collusions involving other World Vision employees or third parties,\u201d Brett Ingerman, the lawyer who headed up the audit, told CT in 2022. The investigators looked at more than 280,000 documents and interviewed more than 180 people but couldn\u2019t find \u201cany material evidence\u201d that the World Vision employee \u201cwas affiliated with, or works for Hamas.\u201d<\/p>\n Grassley, however, is not convinced. In his letter addressed to Andrew Morley, World Vision president and CEO, the senator asked for a copy of the full audit, which has not been made available to the public.<\/p>\n Grassley asked about steps the humanitarian organization has taken to \u201cprevent further money being sent to terrorist organizations.\u201d<\/p>\n The senator also wants information about the humanitarian organization\u2019s current work in Gaza. A 2023 report from World Vision mentions $9.6 million dollars were budgeted for Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, but did not mention any specifics about local partners or vetting practices.<\/p>\n When Halabi was directing the Gaza effort, World Vision reported helping 40,000 children with food, medical supplies, and other assistance annually. All aid to the area was suspended when Halabi was arrested. Critics of the Israeli government\u2019s policies toward Palestinians said the arrest and prosecution was intended to have a chilling effect on humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n Grassley is not particularly concerned with Israel and Palestinians. He is concerned with terrorism and the misuse of foreign aid. He has been investigating places where taxpayer funds might end up in the wrong hands. In another letter<\/a> last month, he asked USAID head Samantha Powers to account for the government\u2019s relationship with World Vision, noting the Christian group is the \u201csixth-largest implementor of USAID grants.\u201d Grassley asked for documents showing the agency has worked to prevent funds from going to terrorism.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is paramount that US dollars do not, in any way, shape, or form, fund or encourage terrorism,\u201d the senator said. \u201cMy goal is to improve transparency and make sure every cent of taxpayer money is used as intended and not for illegal activity.\u201d<\/p>\n Grassley is also currently asking Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for information about $6 billion in US assets released by the Biden administration to Iran in exchange for American detainees.<\/p>\n In 2020, the senator investigated World Vision\u2019s relationship with the Islamic Relief Agency. In a subsequent US Senate Finance Committee Report<\/a>, the humanitarian organization was accused of failing to properly vet organizations it partnered with. The senate committee said that while the funds given to the Islamic Relief Agency were not likely used to directly fund terrorism, the money \u201cinevitably aids their terrorist activities.\u201d World Vision was accused of being \u201cborderline negligent.\u201d<\/p>\n The humanitarian organization denies it did anything wrong working with Islamic Relief Agency, but it has also made changes to its vetting process as a result.<\/p>\n Now, World Vision has sent their response to Grassley\u2019s most recent questions, saying they addressed his concerns within the timeline previously agreed with his office.<\/p>\n In the meantime, the humanitarian aid organization said it will continue to fulfill its Christian mission, \u201censuring our resources provide maximum benefit to the vulnerable children we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n