The Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, has confirmed to Sky News that it received $24,000 (£19,000) from the US State Department to support a film project centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The funds were allocated to facilitate storytelling from marginalized communities through film.

 

This revelation follows criticism of a separate $70,000 (£56,000) grant for a "DEI musical" in Ireland, which the Trump administration recently described as "crap" and a waste of taxpayer money. The administration is in the process of dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been involved in funding international cultural projects. However, spending records indicate that the $24,000 grant given to IADT in October 2021 was not through USAID but rather via the US Embassy in Dublin.

 

The Irish college used the funding, along with additional support from Screen Skills Ireland, to produce four short documentaries created by individuals from marginalized backgrounds. These films premiered at a Galway film festival in July 2023.

 

Project lead lecturer and filmmaker Vanessa Gildea expressed her strong belief in the importance of diversity and inclusion in the film industry. "I believe passionately that the future of film and television must be based on diversity, inclusion, and gender parity. This belief is the reason we created this film project," she said. "We are all incredibly proud of these beautiful and moving films, and of each and every filmmaker."

 

Among the four short films was Falling, a poetic portrayal of a courageous young Afghan woman seeking a better life. Another, Cultural Medium, directed by Britney Madondo, offered a vibrant and lyrical exploration of the Black and Irish experience through the artistic lens of Yomi Attention. What is Freedom?, directed by Mohadesa Shojaee, took viewers on a journey of navigating freedom in a new land, while Sticks & Stones delved into experiences of discrimination and the significance of language.

 

The revelation of the funding came amid a broader scrutiny of US government expenditures on DEI projects abroad. Two weeks ago, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted what she described as "insane priorities" funded by USAID, including $1.5 million (£1.2m) for workplace DEI initiatives in Serbia, $47,000 (£37,000) for a "transgender opera" in Colombia, and the previously mentioned $70,000 (£56,000) grant for the "DEI musical" in Ireland.

 

"I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap, and the American people don't either," Leavitt stated. "And that's exactly what Elon Musk has been tasked by President Trump to do."

 

The funding revelations have provoked strong reactions from conservative commentators in the US. However, it appears that both the $70,000 grant and the IADT funding were awarded by the State Department, not USAID. Reports suggest the $70,000 grant was used for an event in Dublin rather than a musical, though repeated attempts to contact the event's organizer have been unsuccessful.

 

Based on a report by Sky News  2025-02-18

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

The Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, has confirmed to Sky News that it received $24,000 (£19,000) from the US State Department to support a film project centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The funds were allocated to facilitate storytelling from marginalized communities through film.

 

Don't spend it all at once.

 

I suspect that will be the last payment from the US administration for such inane Wokery for quite some time. 

This is a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly 1.5 million Americans that are over 150 years old and receiving Social Security Benefits.  More than a 1,000 people are older than 220 years old and receiving benefits.  If I was one of those Americans receiving these fraudulent payments, I may be a tad bit nervous. 

Probably means more ads on aseannow to stay afloat after the USAID money via the bangkok based news NGO stops ?

3 hours ago, kimothai said:

This is a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly 1.5 million Americans that are over 150 years old and receiving Social Security Benefits.  More than a 1,000 people are older than 220 years old and receiving benefits.  If I was one of those Americans receiving these fraudulent payments, I may be a tad bit nervous. 

And, of course, you have proof of it! 

3 hours ago, kimothai said:

This is a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly 1.5 million Americans that are over 150 years old and receiving Social Security Benefits.  More than a 1,000 people are older than 220 years old and receiving benefits.  If I was one of those Americans receiving these fraudulent payments, I may be a tad bit nervous. 

Where is the link about these allegations? 

36 minutes ago, nomad22 said:

 

Too bad trump didn't bother to think of fixing this in his first term. 

Sorry but "Trump" and "think" is an oxymoron! 

What a poor attempt at distraction meanwhile in the real world our precious Donne is busy with his bestie putin a killing a nation struggling to survive……don’t fall for it!Im sure our little troll army will start their circular conversation awarding them their pals with emojis sad 😞 

9 hours ago, candide said:

And, of course, you have proof of it! 

I don't have the proof but Musk damn sure does! 

9 hours ago, thesetat said:

Where is the link about these allegations? 

Wow!!!  Are all the liberals too lazy to use google or is it that they are too stupid to how?

 

 

Social Security Fraud: Nearly 1.5 Million Americans Listed as Over 150 Years Old, 1,041 Over 220 Years Old

9 hours ago, nomad22 said:

 

Too bad trump didn't bother to think of fixing this in his first term. 

Nor did Obama in 2 terms or Biden 

This seems to explain it all quite well.

 

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/social-security-fraud-discovered-doge/

24 minutes ago, nomad22 said:

 

Not really.  It completely leaves out the fact that all those people over 150 years old are not actually receiving social security payments.  They are just old social security numbers still in the system.  An audit in 2023 found only 44,000 people over 100 receiving payments.

 

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/02/18/musk-150-year-old-social-security/

 

Well if snopes said it that's that eh. 

1 hour ago, kimothai said:

Wow!!!  Are all the liberals too lazy to use google or is it that they are too stupid to how?

 

 

Social Security Fraud: Nearly 1.5 Million Americans Listed as Over 150 Years Old, 1,041 Over 220 Years Old

Says Musk! 😆

1 hour ago, blaze master said:

This seems to explain it all quite well.

 

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/social-security-fraud-discovered-doge/

That's the title of the article you linked: 🙂

 

Are 150-year-old Americans receiving Social Security checks, as Elon Musk said?

The explanation for apparent 150-year-olds receiving checks could relate to arcane coding practices, experts said

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/social-security-fraud-discovered-doge/

3 minutes ago, nomad22 said:

 

You will note that in musk's tweet, he doesn't actually say those 150+ year olds were receiving payments.  He just says they are in the database.  It's quite obvious how he's trying to trick people without actually openly lying.

And, obviously, some people can easily be tricked by him! 😆

1 hour ago, candide said:

That's the title of the article you linked: 🙂

 

Are 150-year-old Americans receiving Social Security checks, as Elon Musk said?

The explanation for apparent 150-year-olds receiving checks could relate to arcane coding practices, experts said

https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2025/social-security-fraud-discovered-doge/

 

Ok.

6 hours ago, candide said:

And, obviously, some people can easily be tricked by him! 😆

I think the people will simply wait for line-by-line investigation, then we'll see who was tricked.

19 hours ago, nomad22 said:

 

Too bad trump didn't bother to think of fixing this in his first term. 

To bad ,maybe he was thwarted !

You can have all the investigations and all the evidence gathered by independent auditors in the world,

if the bureaucrats don’t do anything about it nothing gets done!

 

https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-24-105833.pdf