The United States (U.

Speaking at her first press conference, Leavitt stated that the expenditure was flagged during Trump' s initial week in office. The discovery was made by the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.

"Musk' s initiative and the budget office found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza, " Leavitt said. " That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money."

She did not provide further details about the funding or the programme it was linked to. Independent verification of the claim was not immediately possible.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions, as it comes amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The region, home to over two million people, has suffered extensive destruction after 15 months of war with Israel. Health organisations argue that access to contraception is critical in conflict zones to prevent unplanned pregnancies and the spread of diseases.