U.S. investigators report that six UN agencies are blocking an active probe into their employees’ potential ties to Hamas, raising alarm that American taxpayer dollars may be funding terror-linked staff in Gaza aid programs.
Story Snapshot
- USAID Office of Inspector General reports UN agencies providing inadequate or zero responses to “Operation Stop the Carousel” investigation
- Probe seeks employee data from six agencies—OCHA, UNICEF, IOM, WHO, WFP, UNDP—to prevent U.S. funds from supporting Hamas-connected workers
- One UNRWA school principal already blacklisted for involvement in October 7, 2023 attack; more debarments pending
- Investigation reveals systemic vulnerabilities in UN vetting processes that exempted agencies from standard terror-screening protocols
UN Agencies Fail to Cooperate with Terror-Screening Investigation
The USAID Office of Inspector General transmitted a non-public report to Congress on March 31, 2026, detailing widespread non-cooperation from six UN agencies under investigation for potential Hamas infiltration. The probe, dubbed “Operation Stop the Carousel,” sent formal requests in December 2025 to UN entities operating U.S.-funded projects in Gaza, seeking employee names, contact information, birth dates, and documentation of interactions with Hamas. According to the report obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, responses ranged from partial information to complete silence, with UNDP claiming it never received the inquiry and WFP confirming receipt but providing nothing.
Systemic Vetting Failures Exposed in Aid Distribution
The investigation exposes long-standing vulnerabilities in how U.S. taxpayer funds flow to UN operations without rigorous vetting. Unlike non-governmental organizations that face strict terror-screening requirements, UN agencies historically received exemptions, relying instead on internal self-screening processes that OIG investigators now characterize as inadequate. This systemic failure allowed potential Hamas operatives access to positions funded by American dollars. The Biden administration reversed Trump-era vetting reforms implemented before 2021, according to former USAID executive Max Primorac, creating conditions that enabled the current crisis. The Trump administration dismantled USAID in 2025 after the agency distributed billions to UN humanitarian bodies operating in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Congressional Oversight Intensifies as Blacklisting Expands
Republican lawmakers received the damning report as part of ongoing congressional scrutiny of UN operations in conflict zones. One UNRWA school principal has already been debarred from U.S.-funded work for ten years due to documented involvement in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Additional referrals for debarment are imminent, according to investigators. The probe parallels similar scandals uncovered in Afghanistan, where a Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction report revealed UN agencies funneling U.S. contract funds to the Taliban through kickback schemes. These patterns raise fundamental questions about accountability mechanisms for international organizations handling American aid dollars in terror-controlled territories.
UN Entities Dispute Stonewalling Claims
When contacted by media outlets, several UN agencies disputed characterizations of non-cooperation. OCHA claimed a “strong relationship with USAID OIG” and asserted it responded to requests. IOM stated it “fully responds to U.S. inquiries timely.” UNDP maintained it never received the inquiry. However, OIG investigators deemed these responses insufficient based on the actual information provided versus what was requested. The USAID OIG declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. This disconnect between UN self-assessment and investigator findings underscores the core problem: international bureaucracies operating with minimal external oversight while depending on American funding. For taxpayers already frustrated with endless foreign commitments draining resources, this represents another example of money flowing overseas with inadequate safeguards against terror diversion.
Implications for Future Aid and Accountability
The investigation’s findings carry significant implications for how U.S. foreign assistance operates globally. Short-term consequences include potential staff purges that could disrupt Gaza humanitarian operations, though protecting taxpayers from inadvertently funding terror takes precedence over bureaucratic convenience. Long-term ramifications may include redirecting funds from UN channels to non-governmental organizations subject to proper vetting, fundamentally reshaping the aid landscape and reducing UN influence over American dollars. This aligns with broader conservative principles of accountability and limited government overreach by international bodies. The probe heightens donor demands for transparency across the UN system, potentially triggering reforms in aid vetting protocols worldwide if other countries follow America’s lead in demanding answers about where their money goes.
Sources:
Report: U.N. agencies stonewalling investigation into support for terrorism – WND
UN Agencies Are Stonewalling a Probe Into Their Employees’ Ties to Hamas – Ground News
