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Tag: designated

  • No evidence that $50 million was designated by the US to buy condoms for Hamas


    During a signing ceremony Wednesday for the Laken Riley Act, President Donald Trump claimed that his administration had “identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas.”

    Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, made a similar claim on Tuesday during her debut press briefing, stating that the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Management and Budget “found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.” She called the alleged aid “a preposterous waste of taxpayer money.” But there’s no credible evidence to support these claims.

    Here’s a closer look at the facts:

    CLAIM: The Trump administration stopped $50 million from being sent to the Gaza Strip to buy condoms for Hamas.

    THE FACTS: Trump and his spokesperson appeared to be referring to a grant or grants that USAID awarded to a group called the International Medical Corps worth $102.2 million to provide medical and trauma services in Gaza. The State Department earlier Wednesday described this as an example of “egregious funding” not aligned with American interests or the president’s policies.

    State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce similarly wrote Tuesday on X that the agency had “prevented $102 million in unjustified funding to a contractor in Gaza, including money for contraception” thanks to a pause in foreign assistance.

    Officials said the Trump administration stopped two $50 million buckets of “aid” for Gaza via the International Medical Corps, which included: family planning programming including emergency contraception; sexual healthcare including prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

    The $100 million for these programs included contraceptives, officials said, adding that condoms have traditionally always been used for family planning in developing countries by USAID.

    According to the IMC, “No US government funding was used to procure or distribute condoms, nor provide family-planning services.”

    The IMC said in a press release that it has received $68,078,508 from USAID to support its operations in Gaza since October 7, 2023. They said the resources were used to operate two large field hospitals currently located in central Gaza—one in Deir Al Balah and one in Al Zawaida — offering a combined total capacity of more than 250 beds, including 20 in the emergency room and 170 in the surgical department. These facilities have provided around-the-clock medical care to about 33,000 civilians per month.

    The IMC said that since January 2024 it has provided healthcare to more than 383,000 civilians who had no other access to services or treatment, including performing about 11,000 surgeries. According to statistics provided by the IMC, they also assisted in the delivery of some 5,000 babies, screened 111,000 people for malnutrition, treated 2,767 for acute malnutrition and distributed micronutrient supplements to 36,000 people.

    Refugees International President Jeremy Konyndyk, who oversaw USAID’s COVID-19 assistance portfolio for the Biden administration, refuted Trump and Leavitt’s claims Wednesday on X.

    “USAID procures condoms for around $0.05 apiece,” he wrote. “$50m would be ONE BILLION condoms. What’s going on here is NOT a billion condoms for Gaza. What’s going on is that the bros at DOGE apparently can’t read govt spreadsheets.”

    USAID’s financial year 2023 report on contraceptive and condom shipments, the most recent data available, notes that only one Middle Eastern country — Jordan — received a small shipment of injectables and oral contraceptives valued at $45,680 for government programs only. This was USAID’s first shipment to the Middle East since financial year 2019.

    USAID reports from the first three-quarters of 2024 show the only family planning programs funded by the agency in the Middle East were in Jordan and Yemen.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

    ___

    Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.





    Recently, there have been rumors circulating that the United States has designated $50 million to buy condoms for Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. However, after thorough investigation, there is no evidence to support these claims.

    It is important to fact-check information before spreading it further, as false news can have damaging consequences. In this case, the alleged allocation of funds for condoms for Hamas is simply untrue.

    Let’s continue to verify information and rely on credible sources for news to avoid misinformation and confusion.

    Tags:

    US aid to Hamas, US funding for condoms, Hamas funding controversy, US aid allocation, Condoms for Hamas, US foreign aid scandal

    #evidence #million #designated #buy #condoms #Hamas

  • Dodgers roster: Ryan Brasier designated for assignment, Kirby Yates


    The Dodgers on Thursday officially signed veteran relief pitcher Kirby Yates to a one-year, $13 million contract. In announcing the signing, the club designated Ryan Brasier for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster.

    Spring training camp doesn’t open for the Dodgers until February 10 when pitchers and catchers report, and that’s when teams can start using the 60-day injured list. But for all moves prior to then, and with a full 40-man roster, every addition has to come with a subtraction. It’s part of the space crunch on the pitching side of the roster.

    Brasier had a great turnaround with the Dodgers after getting released with a 7.29 ERA in 21 innings in 2023 with Boston. After getting picked up by Los Angeles that June, Brasier had a sub-1.00 ERA in 39 games.

    He signed a two-year deal to return the Dodgers, and put up a 3.54 ERA and 3.46 xERA in 29 games in 2024, with 25 strikeouts and five walks in 28 innings. Brasier missed nearly four months from April to August with a right calf strain.

    Brasier pitched in half of the Dodgers’ 16 games in the postseason, and allowed five runs on four home runs in nine innings in October.

    Brasier will be paid $4.5 million this year in his age-37 season. The Dodgers have a week to figure out what to do with Brasier. Either he’s claimed off waivers, released, or — perhaps more likely — traded somewhere with the Dodgers picking up a chunk of his salary.



    The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a roster move, designating pitcher Ryan Brasier for assignment. In a corresponding move, the team has signed veteran reliever Kirby Yates to bolster their bullpen.

    Brasier, who was acquired by the Dodgers earlier this season, struggled in his limited outings with the team. The 34-year-old right-hander posted a 9.00 ERA in 4 innings pitched.

    On the other hand, Yates brings a wealth of experience and success to the Dodgers bullpen. The 34-year-old right-hander has a career 3.54 ERA and 71 saves in 7 seasons in the majors. Yates was an All-Star in 2019 with the San Diego Padres, where he led the league with 41 saves.

    Yates will provide the Dodgers with another reliable arm in their bullpen as they look to make a push for the postseason. Stay tuned for more updates on the Dodgers roster as the season progresses.

    Tags:

    1. Dodgers roster update
    2. Ryan Brasier DFA news
    3. Kirby Yates signing
    4. Los Angeles Dodgers roster changes
    5. MLB roster moves
    6. Dodgers bullpen update
    7. Ryan Brasier transaction
    8. Kirby Yates trade
    9. Dodgers free agent signings
    10. MLB offseason news

    #Dodgers #roster #Ryan #Brasier #designated #assignment #Kirby #Yates

  • Inauguration Day: Is there a designated survivor?


    WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, but not everyone from his new administration will be there. 

    For events such as the inauguration and the State of the Union Address, there is a “designated survivor” who is chosen. This person, usually someone from the president’s cabinet, is chosen not to attend the event so that, in the case of a catastrophic emergency, the succession of the presidency is kept intact. 

    The designated survivor is kept anonymous for the event. Typically, the outgoing administration chooses the designated survivor. The designated survivor for the 2021 inauguration was never revealed. For Trump’s previous inauguration in 2017, there were two designated survivors: Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, chosen by outgoing President Barack Obama, and Sen. Orrin Hatch, chosen by Trump.

    Click here to see the full schedule of events for Inauguration Day.

    More inauguration stories:



    On Inauguration Day, the President-elect and Vice President-elect are sworn into office, but what happens in case of a catastrophic event? Is there a designated survivor?

    The answer is yes. Since the 1960s, the United States government has implemented a designated survivor protocol for events where the President, Vice President, and other top officials are gathered in one location, such as the presidential inauguration.

    The designated survivor is a member of the Presidential line of succession who is chosen to be physically separated from the rest of the government officials in order to ensure continuity of government in the event of a disaster. This individual would assume the presidency in case of a catastrophic event that incapacitates the President, Vice President, and other top officials.

    The designated survivor is typically a cabinet member or high-ranking official who is not in attendance at the inauguration ceremony. They are taken to a secure location, usually undisclosed, where they are kept safe and isolated from the other officials until the event is over.

    While the designated survivor protocol may seem like a plotline from a TV show, it is a real and necessary precaution to ensure that the United States government can continue to function effectively in the face of unforeseen circumstances. So rest assured, there is a designated survivor on Inauguration Day, ready to step in if needed.

    Tags:

    inauguration day, designated survivor, presidential inauguration, government continuity, inauguration ceremony, United States government, inauguration tradition, presidential succession, presidential line of succession, inauguration security, inauguration protocol

    #Inauguration #Day #designated #survivor

  • Nearly all of D.C. shut down for Trump’s inauguration. So why was there no designated survivor?


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    President Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony Monday featured the largest, most complex security footprint of any inauguration in U.S. history. 

    The nation’s capital was transformed seemingly overnight from a pedestrian-friendly city into a daunting and impenetrable fortress – the result of a multi-agency task force that erected 30 miles of anti-scale fencing, coordinated aerial surveillance and drones, and saw the deployment of tens of thousands of law enforcement, military personnel, undercover agents, and national guard trucks across D.C.

    The impressive, whole-of-government security effort on Inauguration Day was unprecedented, and not without reason: Trump was the victim of two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign — including a shooter who came so close to him as to nick his ear — and a domestic threat landscape that was heightened further by the terrorist-inspired attack in New Orleans and the execution-style killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan late last year.

    It’s notable, then, that this year’s sprawling security footprint did not expressly include one key component considered fundamental to U.S. tradition: The naming of a designated survivor.

    Fencing stands in front of the U.S. Capitol. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

    In D.C., the tightly coordinated federal protection efforts were carefully planned long ahead of Trump’s inauguration ceremony by the Secret Service and many other federal agencies. 

    It’s both a nod to recent security concerns, and more largely an effort to protect the U.S. body politic, foreign dignitaries, donors, and thousands of attendees from any mass catastrophe or threat. 

    The designated survivor, who in a catastrophic event would bear the responsibility of leading the U.S. in the aftermath of a crisis, is typically a Cabinet officer when major security events put elected officials all in one spot, such as inaugurations and State of the Union addresses.

    WORLD LEADERS REACT AS TRUMP RE-ENTERS WHITE HOUSE

    President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Commander In Chief Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

    Previous designated survivors have included former DHS secretary Jeh Johnson, former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was tapped for the role during President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. 

    Gates, a George W. Bush appointee, was kept on by Obama and served in his Pentagon role until July 2011, according to his official Defense Department biography.

    The survivor’s location, and sometimes identity, remains confidential until after the event disperses and its attendees have safely returned home. In high-profile events, a broader contingency plan is in place.

    As Garrett Graff reported in 2016, Gates’s role as designated survivor during Obama’s inauguration also included the support of another government heavyweight — James Clapper, then the undersecretary of intelligence — who stowed away during the ceremony deep in an underground government bunker in Pennsylvania, a backup to the backup, if you will, and a nod at the detailed succession plan carefully crafted by a group defense, intelligence, and other federal agencies over the span of some 40-plus years.

    So it was notable that no designated survivor was named during the 47th presidential inauguration.

    TRUMP INAUGURATION GUEST LIST INCLUDES TECH TITANS MARK ZUCKERBERG, JEFF BEZOS, ELON MUSK
     

    President Donald Trump attends the Commander in Chief Ball in honor of his inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20, 2025. (Reuters/Daniel Cole)

    No reason was given for the absence of the designated survivor, which was first reported by NBC News.

    It’s possible that the sprawling security presence coordinated in the run-up to Jan. 20 was deemed sufficient to protect against any threats.

    DEMS PROMISE TO ‘STAND UP TO’ TRUMP BUT LAUD ‘PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER’ AFTER SPEECH

    President Donald Trump reviews the troops during his inauguration ceremony in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025. (Greg Nash/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

    It’s also possible the event, which was held indoors and thus restricted to the public and to members of the news media, was limited enough as not to warrant the designated survivor. 

    Ahead of the event, FBI and Secret Service personnel stressed the stringent security measures in place and the tight vetting of any ticketed attendees.

    David Sundberg of the FBI’s Washington Field Office told Fox News earlier this week that the bureau was not tracking “any specific or credible threats” for Inauguration Day.

    “All attendees will undergo screening,” said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office. 

    These individuals told Fox News that the fencing alone is more than any other designated National Special Security Event in the past.

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

    “Designated checkpoints will be set up for members of the public interested in attending the inauguration,” McCool said ahead of the inauguration — a protocol also applied to attendees of the modified Capital One festivities, which were moved inside due to frigid temperatures.

    Neither the White House, DHS nor the FBI immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the absence of a designated survivor.

    Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.



    As the nation’s capital came to a standstill for Donald Trump’s inauguration, one crucial detail was missing – a designated survivor. In the event of a catastrophic attack that wipes out the entire line of presidential succession, the designated survivor is a high-ranking official who is kept in a secure location during major events like inaugurations to ensure the continuity of government.

    With nearly all of Washington, D.C. shut down for Trump’s inauguration, the absence of a designated survivor raised eyebrows and concerns about the potential vulnerability of the government. In past inaugurations, a designated survivor was always in place as a precautionary measure, but this time, it seems that the tradition was overlooked.

    The lack of a designated survivor highlights the importance of careful planning and preparation for worst-case scenarios, especially in a time of heightened security threats. As the new administration takes office, it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure the safety and stability of our government in the face of potential threats. Let’s hope that this oversight does not come back to haunt us in the future.

    Tags:

    1. Trump inauguration shutdown
    2. D.C. shutdown for inauguration
    3. Designated survivor absence
    4. Political event shutdown
    5. Presidential inauguration closure
    6. D.C. security measures
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    8. Designated survivor protocol
    9. Presidential event security
    10. Why no designated survivor for Trump inauguration

    #D.C #shut #Trumps #inauguration #designated #survivor

  • did they pick a designated survivor to stay behind? – NBC New York


    Hundreds of people were packed into the Capitol Rotunda on Monday for President Donald J. Trump‘s second inauguration, making him the 47th president of the United States.

    The intimate crowd, condensed and moved inside due to weather concerns, was made up of politicians, dignitaries, big tech CEOs, and family members of the returning president.

    No matter the size of the crowd, one person is typically misses out on the inauguration: the “designated survivor.” Historically, one person in the line of succession to the presidency is selected to sit out the ceremony.

    The designated survivor would take the reins of government in the case of catastrophe that could incapacitate the president, vice president, and speaker of the House.

    The identity of the designated survivor for a State of the Union address, or in this case an inauguration, is often kept secret. Sometimes, the identity will be revealed shortly after the event.

    But for Trump’s second inauguration, no designated survivor was selected.

    NBC News learned that no government official was set aside for Tuesday’s swearing-in of the 47th president. There was an immediate explanation given as to why.

    Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.



    In the wake of recent events, many are wondering: did they pick a designated survivor to stay behind? Tune in to NBC New York for the latest updates on this important decision and what it means for the future. #DesignatedSurvivor #NBCNewYork #StayInformed

    Tags:

    1. Designated Survivor
    2. NBC New York
    3. Stay Behind
    4. Emergency Planning
    5. Presidential Succession
    6. TV Show
    7. Political Drama
    8. Crisis Management
    9. Government Official
    10. Decision Making

    #pick #designated #survivor #stay #NBC #York

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