Controversy erupted this week after false claims surfaced alleging the U.S. government allocated $50 million for condom distribution in Gaza. The issue gained traction when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during her first press briefing, declared, “There was about to be $50 million taxpayer dollars going out the door to fund condoms in Gaza,” citing findings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Leavitt characterized such spending as "a preposterous waste" of taxpayer money, igniting backlash and skepticism over the accuracy of her statements.
The claim spread rapidly across social media platforms, particularly among conservative figures and media outlets, with Fox News host Jesse Watters amplifying the statement. Watters humorously noted, “We couldn’t believe it when we heard this. We were about to spend $50 million on condoms for Gaza,” expressing disbelief over such extravagant spending for what he jested would yield “enough to give every guy in Gaza a thousand condoms!”
Elon Musk also weighed in, saying this was “the tip of the iceberg,” asserting without evidence, “My guess is much of this money ended up in the pockets of Hamas, not actually condoms.”
Yet, experts quickly refuted Leavitt’s assertions. Andrew Miller, former deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs under the Biden administration, labeled the $50 million figure as “outlandish.” He emphasized there is no evidence to support the claim of large sums being spent on condoms for Gaza.
Digging through the confusion, it turns out the funds were actually meant for an AIDS and STD prevention program targeting Gaza Province, Mozambique, not the Gaza Strip itself. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clarified there had been no allocation for condoms intended for Gaza, and instead, the $83 million sent to Mozambique included health program funding.
Details emerged from various reports, including one from USAID, which indicated the U.S. as the largest donor to family planning programs worldwide. Notably, funding allocated globally for condoms and contraceptives totaled $60.8 million, but none of it was directed at Gaza. Rather, most funds were focused on contraceptive implants and injectables, with only about $7 million going toward male condoms.
Critics pointed out how the GOP's claims mischaracterized U.S. funding efforts, especially since similar funding levels for global contraceptives were previously approved under the Trump administration as well. Dan Evon from the News Literacy Project reiterated this, stating, “Contraceptive funding is not new to any administration.”
Despite the facts, Leavitt’s statements remained unchallenged during the briefing and failed to be substantiated later. Following her claims, the International Medical Corps, which provides medical aid in Gaza, confirmed to PolitiFact, “No U.S. government funding was used to procure or distribute condoms or provide family planning services.”
Analyzing the supposed $50 million allocated, information revealed it would imply each male Gaza resident receiving approximately $23 worth of condoms—a figure deemed unrealistic by many experts and organizations familiar with public health funding dynamics.
Another source of contention came from Watters’ claims on air, alleging Hamas was using U.S. funds to create “condom bombs” by manipulating condoms as explosive devices. Watters’ assertions drew wild ridicule as he questioned the logic of prioritizing condom distribution over basic survival needs amid the conflict.
Compounding the confusing narrative, Trump later reiterated Leavitt’s claims during his public addresses, saying, “We identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas.” The potency of the claims garnered widespread scrutiny as Trump was unable to provide supporting evidence either.
On January 29, the Trump administration withdrew its memo proposing the freeze on various federal aid frameworks. This freeze had initially been responsible for maintaining control over foreign aid, with the State Department indicating it had halted $102 million for Guatemala, which was to include funding for contraception.
Meanwhile, as the political back-and-forth continued, the lack of accountability concerning the claims persisted. With many health experts and organizations on record discrediting the allegations of condom funding for Gaza, the story serves as another example reflecting the need for accurate information dissemination within the politically charged atmosphere surrounding U.S. foreign aid and health policy.