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An Associated Press social media post about transgender aid workers in Nepal turning to sex work after losing their jobs due to U.S. foreign aid cuts sparked a wave of conservative backlash, with critics arguing the video made the case for defunding USAID rather than saving it.
The AP post said that in Nepal, where “a conservative culture leaves openly transgender people with few legal job options,” around 100 LGBTQ aid workers left jobless by U.S. funding cuts had turned to sex work to survive. An accompanying video focused on Rubi Lama, a former HIV outreach worker who said USAID-funded programs had provided free condoms, lubricant and HIV-prevention medication before the cuts.
“When USAID funding was there, condoms were free, lubricant was also distributed … for free,” Lama said in the video, adding that HIV treatments, including PrEP, were also available without cost. “But, now it is gone.”
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The framing quickly drew criticism from conservatives who said the story raised the opposite question: why American taxpayers were funding those programs in the first place.
The flag of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, flies in front of the USAID office in Washington, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, was among the conservatives who argued the AP report made the opposite point from the one intended.
“Our tax dollars no longer fund employment for transgender Nepalese sex workers,” Gill wrote on X. “Thank you for reminding us why defunding USAID was long overdue.”
“Wow very grateful that my tax dollars are no longer funding a bunch of random trannies in Asia,” mocked Daily Wire host Matt Walsh “Is that the point you were trying to make or did you expect us to be somehow sad about this?”
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Artist perform during the first drag queen show in Kathmandu, Nepal, on June 11, 2019. – First time in Nepal’s LGBT community showing drag queen night with colorful costumes and makeup. (PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP)
The backlash comes after President Donald Trump, immediately upon returning to office, ordered a 90-day pause on new foreign development assistance obligations and disbursements while his administration reviewed whether programs aligned with his foreign policy.
USAID later told partners to pause new funding obligations and issue stop-work orders or suspensions for existing awards, while critics have said the review led to major disruptions, staff reductions and the cancellation of critical foreign-assistance awards.
But Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway argued the AP post exposed misplaced priorities, particularly among the media, saying the outlet presented U.S. tax dollars flowing to a “trans Nepalese job protection program” as though it was a good use of public money.
Holes are seen on the building after signage was removed (top) while black plastic covers the logo of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at its headquarters in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2025. ( MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
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“The AP announces that your hard-earned tax dollars were flowing to a trans Nepalese job protection program as if that was an even remotely good use of your money,” Hemingway wrote in a post on X. “AP is sick Democrat propaganda.”
“How dare Elon cut USAID funds to the Nepalese trans sex worker community,” quipped Republican activist Jack Posobiec.