State official reveals extravagant misuse of taxpayer money by nonprofits, according to 'MOGE' audit
Title: The Lowdown on Mississippi's MOGE Report: Wasteful Spending of HIV/AIDS Grants
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White chatted with our digital platform Digital about his latest audit, which uncovers misused HIV/AIDS grants.
Exclusive: An investigation by Mississippi state auditor Shad White revealed numerous instances of questionable spending of state funds allocated for HIV/AIDS issues. The spending scrutiny comes at a time when President Donald Trump faces criticism for reducing similar grant funding via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
White explained that his report highlighted funds meant for fighting HIV/AIDS being spent by some recipients on "Sea-ceanaras" – a Latinx-inspired pride month celebration based on the term "Quinceañera" for a girl's 15th birthday party in Spanish.
"We've been following in the footsteps set forth by President Trump and DOGE in scrutinizing taxpayer funds here in Mississippi," White told Digital in an exclusive interview about updates to what is known as "MOGE" or Mississippi's version of Elon Musk's DOGE government efficiency work.
"We're presently focusing on grants being transferred from state agencies to nonprofits, and our latest findings are honestly a slap in the face for taxpayers," he said.
*MISSISSIPPI'S MOGE REPORT: $400M FUNDING ABUSE*
White further stated, "We started investigating grants meant to pay for HIV/AIDS tests, with these funds flowing through the Mississippi Department of Health... When we examine how certain nonprofits are spending the funds, it's staggering how wasteful it can be."
According to White, taxpayer-funded initiatives aimed at constructive purposes were also used for late-night cab rides in New York City over several days, which appeared to be indicative of bar-hopping.
*TWO STATES PLANNING TO AX CITIZEN INCOME TAXES*
White commented that if such funding misuse occurred in a conservative state like the Magnolia State, it could potentially be just the start compared to more liberal states.
"Our audit indicates that when you drill down into how this money is actually being spent, it's not helping people affected by HIV/AIDS. It's not aiding in HIV testing. Instead, it's being squandered," White added.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration's National Institutes of Health has recently faced criticism for similar cuts in its own DOGE endeavors, with experts claiming that such cuts could potentially lead to loss of life.
****DOWNLOAD THE OUR WEBSITE APP HEREThe Mississippi State Auditor's office's HIV/AIDS funding audit is only the latest example of their ongoing efforts to minimize waste or fraud involving state taxpayer money.
"DOGE has shown that grants received from the federal government and then passed on to non-profits have a high risk of fraud," White explained.
"Our audit here provides evidence that the kind of mismanagement you might witness at the federal level, or in larger states like California or New York, is not isolated to these areas. All states must take the lead of President Trump."
Charles Creitz is a correspondent for our digital platform Digital.
He started with our platform in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. Creitz contributes to coverage on media, politics, and culture for Digital.
An alumnus of Temple University, Creitz graduated with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. You can send story tips to [email protected].
- Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has exposed numerous instances of questionable spending of state funds allocated for HIV/AIDS issues, including funds intended for fighting HIV/AIDS being spent on a Latinx-inspired pride month celebration called "Sea-ceanaras".
- In his exclusive interview with Digital, White stated that his latest findings regarding grants being transferred from state agencies to nonprofits are a slap in the face for taxpayers, with the misuse of funds totaling $400 million in the 'Mississippi MOGE Report'.
- The audit by the Mississippi State Auditor's office reveals that taxpayer-funded initiatives aimed at constructive purposes were also used for late-night cab rides in New York City, indicative of bar-hopping.
- White commented that if such funding misuse occurred in a conservative state like Mississippi, it could potentially be just the beginning compared to more liberal states.
- The Trump administration's National Institutes of Health has recently faced criticism for similar cuts in its own DOGE endeavors, with experts claiming that such cuts could potentially lead to loss of life.
- The Mississippi State Auditor's office's HIV/AIDS funding audit is only the latest example of their ongoing efforts to minimize waste or fraud involving state taxpayer money, and White believes that states should take the lead of President Trump in scrutinizing taxpayer funds.
