During a press conference on February 5, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the USAID allocated $20 million for a “Sesame Street” TV show in Iraq. This claim conflates funding for the Ahlan Simsim Iraq educational initiative. Senators have discussed the funding amid proposed cuts to USAID. However, the funds specifically support early childhood development, not a new show.
On February 5, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced during a news conference that USAID allocated $20 million to develop a “Sesame Street” TV show in Iraq. This statement raised questions about the program’s nature and its funding structure. Leavitt also criticized Democrats for opposing the administration’s cuts to various federal programs and included the $20 million figure in her remarks.
Senator Joni Ernst echoed the claim on February 13 during a U.S. Senate Committee hearing. She chairs the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus and referenced the funding in the context of targeting USAID for budget cuts. However, the assertion conflates a broader initiative involving “Sesame Street” characters with a specific USAID-funded educational project known as Ahlan Simsim Iraq.
Ahlan Simsim Iraq, supported by funds from USAID, encompasses an early childhood development program aimed at families in conflict zones. An archived page from the USAID website indicates that between July 2021 and June 2027, the agency allocated $20 million to Sesame Workshop for developing this initiative, which includes Arabic broadcasting across multiple countries.
Despite inquiries to the White House, Senator Ernst’s office, Sesame Workshop, and USAID’s Office of Inspector General, none clarified the origin of the $20 million figure as presented. Importantly, Sesame Workshop confirmed that the funding pertains exclusively to the Ahlan Simsim Iraq program, which incorporates localized educational content without directly funding the creation of a new “Sesame Street” show.
The USAID-funded Ahlan Simsim Iraq program concentrates on creating educational resources tailored for local children. It supplies storybooks, activity books, classroom materials, and teacher training guides, all aimed at enhancing early childhood education and supporting teachers, parents, and youth leaders in conflict-affected areas.
In summary, while the White House has cited $20 million for developing a “Sesame Street” show in Iraq, this funding actually relates to the Ahlan Simsim Iraq program aimed at early childhood education. The program leverages existing content but is distinct from a new TV show initiative. Discrepancies regarding the funding’s purpose remain unresolved despite inquiries from various parties.
Original Source: www.snopes.com
