Facebook posts wrongly say COVID-19 bill includes foreign aid, arts funding

Shortly after lawmakers agreed on sending $600 stimulus checks to many Americans, Facebook users said the COVID-19 relief bill put foreign interests and the arts above the needs of the American people. “Every American left and right should be calling for a #VETO of this stimulus ‘deal’— which provides MORE funding to foreign governments and to American arts centers, than to the American people,” said a Dec. 21 post.  The post included a picture listing domestic entities and foreign countries appropriated millions if not billions of dollars, juxtaposed with just $600 for the “American people.” Under domestic funding, for instance, it listed the “Kennedy Center — $26,400,000.” The post mentioned at least eight foreign countries receiving aid, including Egypt, Sudan, and Ukraine. According to the post, Egypt would get $1.3 billion. The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) The post is right that Congress appropriated funds for foreign aid and for American arts centers, and Americans are free to disagree that taxpayer money is allotted in this way.  » Read More