The US Agency for International Development (USAID) inspector general's office has been investigating six UN agencies, including UNRWA, over their ties to Hamas, a terrorist organization that has been accused of infiltrating and controlling UN humanitarian groups in Gaza. The probe, dubbed Operation Stop the Carousel, was initiated late last year to root out Hamas-linked UNRWA staffers and stop them from migrating to other UN agencies that perform work in Gaza with US taxpayer funds.
However, the investigation has been hindered by the UN's failure to provide key documents and information, including the names and contact information of employees who have worked on US-government funded awards, as well as details of their interactions with Hamas. The USAID inspector general's office sent letters to the six UN agencies in December 2025, but more than three months later, none of the agencies have furnished the full list of documents requested.
A senior American diplomat told the Washington Free Beacon that the United Nations must cut ties with UNRWA, which is seen as a "cancerous" organization that has been corrupted by Hamas. The diplomat stated that the US will not allow the UN to evade accountability in its handling of US taxpayer dollars and that the UN's failure to cooperate with the USAID inspector general's investigation is "totally unacceptable."
The USAID inspector general's investigation has identified at least 100 Hamas members whose salaries were paid by UNRWA, and the probe has recently expanded to include at least 1,500 UNRWA-linked individuals suspected of terror ties. This has led to increased calls for the US to designate UNRWA as a foreign terrorist organization.
The UN's stonewalling of the investigation has inflamed tensions with the Trump administration, which is working to dismantle UNRWA and slash US support to multiple agencies known for pushing an anti-Israel agenda. The administration expects all organizations that have received US funding to cooperate with the appropriate US authorities to facilitate the proper administration of justice and prevent the occurrence of abuse.
A second US diplomatic official involved with the Board of Peace, a Trump-created international coalition established to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, stated that the UN knows it must shutter UNRWA and sever ties with the agency once and for all. The official added that the Board of Peace is seeking to maintain and enhance its humanitarian partnership with the UN, but will do so as it winds down UNRWA's operations in Gaza and transitions to more appropriate partners.
The House Oversight Committee, which is chaired by Rep. James Comer (R., Ky.), has also been investigating UNRWA and has confirmed that both the UN and UNRWA have stonewalled Congress's oversight efforts. The committee has issued repeated formal demands to both the UN and the Department of State for investigative records on UNRWA staff implicated in terrorist activity.
A "strictly confidential" UN probe into its staffers' involvement in the October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel has been obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. The report dismisses the allegations and, in many cases, does not attempt to corroborate the evidence against its staffers. The narrow scope of the investigation has fueled accusations that the UN probe was intentionally structured to let accused Hamas members off the hook.
Both the UN report and USAID inspector general's findings are likely to fuel fresh oversight initiatives on Capitol Hill. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), the chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, stated that the newly reported documents shine more light on the Biden administration's failure to prevent Americans' hard-earned money from going to terrorists who hate America and who murder our allies.
Grassley added that he is deeply troubled by the UN report on its so-called investigation, which bends over backwards to avoid taking responsibility for UNRWA staff's involvement with Hamas and the October 7 attack. The senator called for bipartisan follow-up from Congress, citing the need for further oversight and action to prevent US taxpayer dollars from funding terrorist activities.
The US pressure on the UN to cut ties with UNRWA comes as the international organization faces intense scrutiny over its handling of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The US has been a major donor to UNRWA, but the agency's links to Hamas have raised concerns about the use of US taxpayer dollars to fund terrorist activities. The US is now seeking to ensure that its funding is used for legitimate humanitarian purposes and not diverted to support terrorist organizations.
The situation highlights the complex and challenging nature of humanitarian aid in conflict zones, where the lines between legitimate aid and terrorist support can become blurred. The US and other donors must navigate these complexities to ensure that their funding is used effectively and efficiently to support those in need, while also preventing the diversion of aid to terrorist organizations.
The US-UN tensions over UNRWA also reflect broader disagreements between the two entities over issues such as Middle East peace and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The US has been a strong supporter of Israel, while the UN has been criticized for its perceived bias against the Jewish state. The dispute over UNRWA is likely to further strain relations between the US and the UN, with potential implications for the broader Middle East peace process.
As the US continues to press the UN to cut ties with UNRWA, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The US is likely to continue to push for greater accountability and transparency within the UN, particularly with regards to its humanitarian aid programs. The UN, on the other hand, may resist US pressure, citing concerns about the impact on humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza. Ultimately, the outcome will depend on the ability of the two entities to find common ground and work towards a solution that balances the need for humanitarian aid with the need to prevent the diversion of funds to terrorist organizations.