By Andrea Picciotti-Bayer
The Trump administration will begin directing U.S. dollars away from ineffective UN relief projects to on-the ground projects run by faith-based and private organizations approved by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for persecuted religious minorities in the Middle East.
The change was announced Wednesday night during a speech by Vice President Pence at the solidarity dinner held as part of a three-day summit organized by In Defense of Christians. The Secret Service had told the audience to stay seated during the vice president’s remarks, but those in attendance, many of whom live in countries ravaged by groups such as ISIS, greeted the announcement with a resounding standing ovation.
