House Republican lawmakers have accused the State Department of using taxpayer money to promote atheism overseas, specifically through a $500,000 grant awarded to Humanists International (HI) in April 2021. The department had previously claimed that the grant was for supporting religious freedom programs and promoting tolerance towards religious minority populations, but recent evidence suggests otherwise. This has led to accusations of misuse of funds and a violation of the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution.
The State Department recently admitted to misrepresentations about the nature of the programming funded by the grant and has expressed “deep concern” over the issue. Lawmakers such as Reps. Michael McCaul, Chris Smith, and Brian Mast are critical of the department for allegedly misleading Congress and expanding atheist networks abroad. They have called for accountability measures and are demanding transparency on the corrective actions being taken by the State Department regarding this issue.
Congressional investigators found discrepancies between the slides provided by the State Department and those used by HI in programming in Nepal. These differences exposed the true nature of the grant, which was designed to promote atheism and expand atheist networks abroad, rather than supporting religious freedom programs as initially claimed by the State Department. Lawmakers have also criticized the neglect of Christian and Muslim minorities in South Asia, who face real persecution compared to atheists and humanists.
The State Department’s Deputy Secretary Richard Verma had previously denied that the grant was intended to promote atheism and stated that he had not seen any evidence of such activities in Nepal. However, evidence has since emerged that contradicts these claims, leading to further scrutiny of the department’s actions. The House Republicans are skeptical of the State Department’s promises to take immediate action and recoup misused funds, and have requested regular updates on the corrective measures being implemented by the agency.
Overall, the controversy surrounding the State Department’s funding of atheist promotion overseas has raised concerns about the misuse of taxpayer money and potential violations of the US Constitution. Lawmakers are calling for accountability and transparency in the handling of these funds and have emphasized the need to prioritize the rights and protection of religious minority populations in South Asia. The State Department’s acknowledgment of misrepresentations and the discrepancies in the programming highlight the importance of congressional oversight in ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used appropriately and in accordance with constitutional principles.
