George Pataki Supports Trump’s Overhaul of USAID, Slams Agency for ‘Far-Left’ Mismanagement

George Pataki Supports Trump’s Overhaul of USAID, Slams Agency for ‘Far-Left’ Mismanagement

By: Fern Sidman

Former New York Governor George Pataki, who has been actively involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, voiced his strong support for former President Donald Trump’s plan to overhaul the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), calling the agency a “far-left” institution plagued by mismanagement. In an interview with WABC 770 AM’s Cats Roundtable on Sunday, Pataki revealed his deep frustrations with USAID under the Biden administration, highlighting what he described as wasteful spending and a failure to effectively deliver aid. As The New York Post reported on Sunday, Pataki, 79, did not mince words in his critique, declaring, “Completely dismantle it, and start all over.”

Pataki, who established a relief fund to aid Ukrainians following Russia’s 2022 invasion, has visited Ukraine multiple times as part of his nonprofit work through the Pataki Leadership Center. However, as The New York Post report indicated, despite his hands-on humanitarian efforts—delivering thousands of heaters, generators, medical supplies, and constructing mobile housing for refugees—his organization received no support from USAID. “We’ve been there all these times delivering humanitarian aid. We’ve seen virtually nothing from USAID,” he said, pointing out the agency’s failure to coordinate with grassroots initiatives already working efficiently on the ground.

The former governor’s comments come in response to Trump’s sweeping effort to restructure USAID, a move that The New York Post reported has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. The administration had planned to place thousands of USAID employees on paid leave, reducing the agency’s workforce to just a few hundred, in a bid to eliminate what Trump and his allies view as bureaucratic bloat and partisan activism. Pataki welcomed the move, stating, “This is long overdue.”

The push to dismantle and rebuild USAID has also been supported by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency team has been tasked with identifying wasteful spending in the agency’s more than $40 billion in funding programs. As The New York Post report highlighted, Musk’s review team gained access to USAID headquarters nearly two weeks ago, marking the beginning of an intensive audit aimed at uncovering financial mismanagement.

One of Pataki’s primary grievances, as outlined in The New York Post, is the agency’s allocation of funds toward what he considers unnecessary or ideological programs. He was particularly incensed by reports showing that USAID spent $1.5 million on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including employment support for LGBT+ persons. “What they were doing under Biden was criminal,” Pataki said, arguing that such spending was prioritized over urgent humanitarian needs in war-torn regions such as Ukraine. “You have to clean house, and that’s what [Trump] is doing.”

Pataki’s dissatisfaction with USAID dates back to his personal experiences dealing with the agency while trying to provide direct aid to Ukrainians in crisis. The New York Post report recounted his frustration at being ignored by USAID officials despite the clear and immediate impact of his nonprofit’s efforts. “We tried to talk to them and say, ‘Look, we have an all-volunteer organization. We’re on the ground in Ukraine. We can deliver things efficiently. Right away,’” he said, lamenting that USAID showed no interest in working with them.

“They had no interest at all, because they go through their cronies — their Washington partners who they have given billions in grants to for years,” Pataki said, condemning the agency’s funding practices. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, the former governor argued that these organizations—many of which receive significant financial support from USAID—function more as self-serving bureaucracies than effective humanitarian relief networks. “Those Washington organizations have huge bureaucracies that spend the money on themselves,” he asserted, further arguing that direct aid to those in need is significantly diminished due to mismanagement and inefficiency.

Pataki, who has spearheaded humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine through his nonprofit Pataki Leadership Center, stated that very little of the massive funds allocated to Ukraine by USAID actually reach the frontlines in meaningful ways. As The New York Post report said, Pataki highlighted a glaring mismatch between funding and on-the-ground necessities: “Very little” of the money is spent on things truly needed in Ukraine, such as generators and heaters. Having personally delivered thousands of these supplies, Pataki’s remarks serve as a stark indictment of USAID’s effectiveness in responding to one of the most pressing humanitarian crises of the modern era.

USAID has been allocated billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine, yet as The New York Post report detailed, Pataki saw little evidence of that money translating into tangible relief. His firsthand account of delivering heaters, generators, and hygiene supplies stands in stark contrast to what he described as USAID’s inefficiency and lack of visible presence in the war zone. His belief that the agency operates as a politicized bureaucracy rather than an effective humanitarian organization has only strengthened his support for Trump’s aggressive restructuring plans.

USAID, which has been criticized for inefficient spending and partisan decision-making, has long been a target of conservatives who view it as a bloated bureaucracy. As The New York Post reported, Pataki supports former President Donald Trump’s efforts to completely restructure the agency, calling it a long-overdue reform. “That’s exactly how USAID has operated. It has been an awful organization. … It’s long overdue to completely dismantle it and start all over,” he declared.

Beyond the issue of USAID’s failures, Pataki pointed to what he sees as the Biden administration’s catastrophic handling of the Russia-Ukraine war. As The New York Post report documented, Pataki believes that Biden’s approach—providing aid in a slow, piecemeal fashion—has only prolonged the conflict and led to devastating losses for the Ukrainian people. “This war has been a catastrophe. Biden’s leadership has been a disaster for Ukraine, dribbling out help, having the war extended now virtually three years … with massive losses to the Ukrainians,” he said. His statement reflects growing frustration among critics who argue that Biden’s strategy has kept Ukraine in a prolonged state of war without a clear path to resolution.

In contrast, Pataki voiced confidence in Trump’s ability to broker a peace deal that could finally bring an end to the war. As The New York Post reported, the former governor expressed hope that Trump, if re-elected, would act as a decisive mediator between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “I am hopeful Trump will be the strong leader to forge a peace agreement,” Pataki said, emphasizing that a well-negotiated settlement is necessary to stop the bloodshed and allow Ukraine to rebuild.

Despite his criticism of the ongoing war, Pataki acknowledged Zelensky’s leadership during the crisis. According to The New York Post, he praised the Ukrainian president’s ability to rally his country and inspire resistance against Russian aggression. “Zelensky has done a tremendous job in rallying the Ukrainian people and the cause of the freedom of their country,” Pataki noted. However, he also suggested that a peace treaty should be followed by democratic elections in Ukraine, allowing the nation’s citizens to determine their future leadership.

“If a peace treaty with Russia can be signed, a fair election in Ukraine would give them a chance to say, ‘We now are at peace. Let’s rebuild our country. And let’s choose the leadership.’ It may well be Zelensky again,” Pataki told The New York Post. His comments reflect a broader belief that, while Zelensky has been a strong wartime leader, the Ukrainian people should have the opportunity to select their government in a peacetime setting.