Tom Cotton under scrutiny for alleged ties to anti-Trump NGO funded by USAID

Senator Tom Cotton’s alleged ties to the IRI, funded by USAID, raise concerns over policy conflicts with Donald Trump.

Senator Tom Cotton, a staunch Republican from Arkansas, is facing criticism for his alleged connections to the International Republican Institute (IRI), a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has received millions in taxpayer funding, much of it from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

According to DataRepublican, Cotton, who serves as a director at IRI, is not paid for his role, but the organization received $130.7 million in 2024. This funding includes substantial amounts allocated to travel expenses and employee benefits, with over $12 million spent on travel and $14 million on pensions and fringe benefits.

I’ll clarify this for you, @charliekirk11.

Senator Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) serves as a Director at the International Republican Institute (IRI), one of eight core NGOs aligned with the political establishment. While IRI is closely tied to the Republican Party, its agenda and… https://t.co/gY6r846Pb3 pic.twitter.com/EJl7Q9KGIr

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) February 16, 2025

While IRI is linked to the Republican Party, it has been criticized for promoting policies that often conflict with those championed by President Donald Trump. The organization has funded progressive initiatives, such as refugee resettlement programs through the UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration. Critics argue that IRI’s focus on global initiatives aligns more with the interests of the global elite than the priorities of U.S. citizens or conservative values.

Why the opposition to Bridge? What does he think Bridge will do?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 16, 2025

This revelation about IRI’s funding comes at a time when Cotton is reportedly working behind the scenes to block Trump’s Department of Defense (DOD) nominee, Elbridge Colby, for the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Colby, who has been a vocal opponent of the Bush/Cheney influence at the DOD, faces resistance from Cotton, adding to the tension between Cotton and Trump’s supporters.