House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul is warning that he may issue a subpoena to the State Department regarding a grant. The committee has already subpoenaed Humanists International for failing to provide documents related to a $500,000 grant they received from the State Department to promote atheism overseas. Rep. Michael McCaul announced the subpoena on August 8, accusing Humanists International of lack of transparency with Congress.
Humanists International, a group promoting secular, atheist beliefs, is one of the recipients of the State Department grant titled “Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals.” McCaul has been seeking records related to this grant since last August.
McCaul expressed concerns about organizations like Humanists International implementing publicly funded programs with minimal congressional oversight. The committee had set a deadline of August 6 for the State Department to provide correspondence between the department and Humanists International.
The State Department had previously refused to hand over documents to House Republicans regarding grants for promoting atheism abroad. The GOP, being in the minority at the time, did not have subpoena power. There are debates about whether these grants violate the Constitutional clause regarding the “establishment of religion” and the free exercise thereof.
The State Department’s funding, like other government entities, comes from Congress. The Epoch Times has reached out to Humanists International and the State Department for comments on the subpoena.
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