WASHINGTON — A senior Democratic senator and the State Department have resolved their dispute over U.S. aid to programs that promote democracy in Cuba.
The end to the monthslong logjam clears the way for the Obama administration to spend $20 million on the programs.
Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont had placed a hold on the money. He said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had lifted that hold after receiving additional answers from the department about how the money was being spent.
Established in 1996, the Cuba program has been the subject of investigative reports that indicated grantees misused funds and the U.S. government provided little oversight.
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