In the midst of heightened tensions in the Middle East, the Biden administration is grappling with a public revolt within its own ranks. USAID Director Samantha Power faced a wave of condemnation from current and former staff members who accused the U.S. government of funding genocide in Gaza. The controversy erupted during Power’s attempt to deliver a speech on climate change in Washington on Tuesday.
The revolt was led by staff members who had recently quit their positions at USAID. Interrupting Power’s speech, they demanded her resignation and called for her to speak out against the administration’s alleged complicity in the “U.S.-funded genocide” in Gaza. “You wrote a book on genocide and you’re still working for the administration: You should resign and speak out,” said Agnieszka Sykes, a former USAID employee, according to The Washington Post.
Hannah Funk, a current USAID employee, accused the U.S. of hypocrisy and criticized the Biden administration for squandering its moral authority by supporting Israel. “The U.S.-funded genocide in Gaza has really left us unable to be moral leaders on climate change and all the other pressing development and humanitarian issues those of us who work at USAID care so much about,” Funk told Power during the event.
Power, in response, acknowledged the devastating situation in Gaza but defended Israel’s campaign as necessary to prevent further attacks. She cited data from the Palestinian health authority, a Hamas-run organization, stating that over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed. However, the White House has expressed skepticism towards this data, cautioning against trusting Hamas as a reliable source.
The public spat between Power and her staff is indicative of the growing division within the Democratic Party over Israel’s war against Hamas. Even interns at the White House have joined the chorus, urging President Biden to push for a cease-fire. More than 40 interns from the White House and other executive agencies have signed a letter calling for immediate action.
Biden has also faced criticism from leftist members of the Democratic Party, including the “Squad,” for not doing enough to broker a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The president’s ongoing support for Israel’s retaliatory war in Gaza has further deepened the divide within his administration.
As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, the Biden administration finds itself grappling with internal dissent and external pressure to take action. The controversy surrounding USAID Director Samantha Power underscores the challenges faced by the Democratic Party in balancing its support for Israel and addressing concerns about human rights violations in Gaza.
Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events, contributed to this report.
