Letter to Antony Blinken, Secretary of State - McCaul Demands Answers From State on $20K Grant for Drag Shows in Ecuador

Letter

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Amidst a national crisis on the southwest border and China's growing expansion and influence in the Western Hemisphere, the State Department has awarded $20,600 in grants to an Ecuadorian nonprofit, "to promote diversity and inclusion…will host 3 workshops, 12 drag theater performances, and produce a 2 minute documentary."

A department spokesperson defended the award, arguing it will "advance key U.S. values of diversity and the inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities" and identifying it as part of "a wide range of strategic programs in Ecuador that incorporate concepts from diversity, inclusion, and representation to equity and accessibility."

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance lists the objectives of the Public Diplomacy Programs under which the grant was awarded as to "support the achievement of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security by informing and influencing foreign publics and by expanding and strengthening the relationship between the people and government of the United States and citizens of the rest of the world."

This award raises significant questions about the department's grantmaking decisions and the Biden administration's overall views of U.S. foreign policy objectives in the region. It is difficult to imagine how the department determined that funding "drag theater performances" would be a worthwhile use of taxpayer dollars or consistent in any way with the program objectives outlined above.

To assist Congress in conducting its constitutional oversight responsibilities, please provide a staff-level briefing as soon as possible, but no later than November 7, 2022. Additionally, please provide the following no later than November 7, 2022:

All documents and communications referring or relating to the department's $20,600 grant to the Centro Ecuatoriano Norteamericano de Cuenca;

Documents sufficient to show all criteria, guidelines, processes, and approval chains relating to the consideration and approval of Public Diplomacy Programs grants/awards generally, as well as specifically for the $20,600 grant to the Centro Ecuatoriano Norteamericano de Cuenca; and

A list of all State Department "strategic programs in Ecuador that incorporate concepts from diversity, inclusion, and representation to equity and accessibility." For any grants/awards, please identify the funding recipient, implementing partner, amount funded, dates, and purpose/description.

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