The Biden-Harris administration is facing intense scrutiny after USAID administrator Samantha Power posted a video highlighting efforts to restore power in Ukraine. As Power explained US support for Ukraine’s energy grid, more than 700,000 Americans remain without electricity in the wake of Hurricane Helene, leading to widespread criticism online.
In the video, Power stands at a Ukrainian energy substation, describing how USAID is working to replace damaged transformers and protect critical infrastructure from future attacks. “Thanks to the support of the American people,” Power said, “we are helping Ukrainians keep the lights on and the heat going this winter.”
However, many Americans, still reeling from the devastation of Helene, expressed outrage over the administration’s focus on Ukraine. One user, watching the video in her powerless home, remarked, “So you are making sure the lights stay on in Ukraine while thousands of Americans are still sitting in the dark.”
Former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell added to the criticism, pointing out that hundreds of thousands of Americans remain without power. “Meanwhile, Samantha Power is doing videos in Ukraine proudly giving away tens of millions of US tax dollars,” Grenell said, calling the administration “tone-deaf.”
According to whistleblowers, the federal response to Helene has been slow, with FEMA struggling to provide adequate assistance. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) noted that, despite the billions spent on Ukraine, FEMA’s budget is stretched thin. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has acknowledged that there may not be enough funds to cover disaster relief for the rest of the hurricane season.