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‘DOGE’ catches Christian America on the take
In a week of Elon Musk revelations, churches learned that they were getting billions of dollars from the government
The week in politics was dominated by the theme of government corruption, as Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” dug into the spending of USAID, a supposed ‘aid’ organization.
But Christians in America got a real surprise. Many learned for the first time that their most prominent organizations are substantially funded by government grants.
To look at the money flowing out of USAID, it would appear to be a humanitarian fund with strongly Christian leanings.
The largest beneficiary in 2024 was Catholic Relief Services, which received $476 million in 2024. From World Vision to Franklin Graham’s Samaritan Purse to various Lutheran charities, the most prominent Christian organizations were found to be USAID beneficiaries.
It might even seem that the only Christian organizations that were perceived to do much good in the world were being funded, not by Jesus and his earth angels, but by Uncle Sam.
Many Christians spent the week poring over the grants in horrified fascination.
They were unaware that “church” and “state” aren’t so separate after all.
With aid on “pause” by Trump’s White House, the largest Christian “aid” organizations in America were wondering if they’d meet payroll.
In the resulting furor, ironies were to be found? Christians are very often political conservatives, i.e. Republicans calling for “smaller government,” not even aware…