Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), once regarded as a staunch conservative voice in the Republican Party, is now facing major scrutiny over his connections to the International Republican Institute (IRI), a taxpayer-funded nonprofit that has received over $130.7 million in federal grants in 2024 alone.
According to DataRepublican, a leading investigative account on government spending on X, formerly Twitter, Cotton serves as a Director at IRI, though he does not receive compensation for his role. Despite this, the organization’s funding and activities have raised concerns among conservative circles, particularly in relation to its alignment with globalist initiatives that run counter to America First policies.
Recent audits reveal that IRI, one of eight core non-governmental organizations (NGOs) affiliated with the U.S. political establishment, has been heavily bankrolled by USAID, with nearly $130.7 million of taxpayer funds allocated to the organization in the past year. The financial records highlight significant spending on:
- Salaries: $38 million
- Fringe benefits: $17.5 million
- Travel expenses: $12.1 million
- Rent and utilities: $3 million
While IRI has long…
Read the full article here