There’s a battle happening inside the Republican Party, and it’s not just between Republicans and Democrats.
Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky known for his strong libertarian values, is taking on what he calls “fake conservatives” in his own party.
He’s pointing the finger at politicians who claim to support limited government but back organizations that rely on massive taxpayer funding.
Massie’s main concern is with two organizations: the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). These groups claim to promote democracy around the world, but they do it with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.
The IRI receives more than $130 million per year from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), while the NED gets $300 million annually. That’s money coming straight from the pockets of Americans.
The question Massie is asking: Should U.S. tax dollars be funding political movements in other countries?
Who’s Involved?
These organizations aren’t just run by bureaucrats in Washington. They have big-name Republicans on their boards, including:
- Marco Rubio
- Lindsey Graham
- Tom Cotton
- Joni Ernst
- Mitt Romney
- Dan Crenshaw
And for 25 years, the IRI was led by the late John McCain, a senator known for his interventionist foreign policy.
The NED, on the other hand, has former Representative Elise Stefanik in its ranks, showing that the organization has allies inside Congress as well.
Massie and his supporters argue that these groups aren’t just helping democracy abroad—they’re helping the U.S. government interfere in other countries.
Critics say the IRI and NED support political movements that align with U.S. interests, not necessarily the interests of the people in those nations. In some cases, these activities have even been accused of contributing to regime change operations—essentially pushing for governments to be overthrown when they don’t fit U.S. goals.
For conservatives who believe in small government and non-interventionism, this is a huge problem. They see it as another example of the establishment wing of the GOP supporting big government programs while claiming to be conservative.
Massie has been vocal about this issue on social media, questioning why more Republicans aren’t talking about it.
Massie has also warned that a shift is coming. He believes that groups fighting against government overreach—possibly including Elon Musk’s push for more transparency and efficiency in government—are on a “collision course” with these establishment Republicans.
Supporters of the IRI and NED argue that promoting democracy worldwide is good for America. They say these groups help prevent the rise of dictatorships and strengthen U.S. allies.
But others, including many conservatives, think this is just another way for the government to spend billions on things that don’t benefit everyday Americans.
They argue that the U.S. should focus on problems at home—like securing the border, fixing the economy, and reducing the national debt—before spending money on foreign politics.
Essentially, on one side, you have establishment Republicans who support a more active role for the U.S. abroad. On the other, you have libertarians and America First conservatives who believe in a smaller government and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
This isn’t just a policy debate—it’s a fight over what it really means to be a conservative.
If Massie is right, some of the loudest voices in the GOP aren’t actually committed to limiting government at all. They just like to talk about it while spending your tax dollars on things most Americans never hear about.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
