Incorrect according to their bylaws. US Soccer's primary purpose is "to promote, govern, coordinate, and administer the growth and development of soccer in all its recognized forms in the United States for all persons of all ages and abilities, including national teams and international games and tournaments" The responsibility of the youth council is "to make reports and recommendations to the Board about youth soccer matters, including programs and activities the Board may direct the Youth Council to administer". Their are no restrictions in the bylaws for the funding of youth soccer, in fact, expenses of the youth council can be included in the annual budget of the Federation. There are also no legal restrictions on the source of funds being matched to the expenditures of funds. Ironically, USSF generates more revenue from Youth registration fees than it invests back into the development of youth programs.
Yes, it's clear that USSF has made the USMNT it's priority mission; however, that's by choice and not by organizational structure. USSF is failing youth soccer.
I disagree with a few of your statements/opinions. First, the generic statement in the Bylaws sets forth the over arching goals, true, but the National Council decisions have established more clearly defined roles than the generic statement you cite.
Let's take a step back. Since we are talking how money is spent, appreciate that US Soccer spends its money according to an approved budget. That budget is approved by the National Council (i.e. the voting members) each year by the National Council at the AGM.
Bylaw 301. STATUS AND GENERAL AUTHORITY
The National Council shall be the representative membership body of the Federation and have the following authority:
(1) to elect the President and Vice President of the Federation.
(2) to amend the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
(3) to approve the budgets of the Federation, including budgets of the Youth, Adult, Professional and Athletes' Advisory Councils.
(4) to grant Life Member status to individuals.
(5) to approve changes in boundaries of State Associations.
(6) to approve membership fees paid to the Federation.
(7) to approve membership of all Organization Members.
(8) to adopt policies and rescind or amend policies adopted by the Board.
(9) to affirm actions of the Board.
At the 2019 AGM, the voting power was as follows:
Youth Council 313 votes (26%)
Adult Council 313 votes (26%)
Professional Council 313 votes (26%)
Athlete's Council 244 votes (20%)
Life, BOD and Past Presidents 36 votes (3%)
The proposed budget for 2020 reflects the following:
Revenue from Youth
Youth Membership Fees = $3.9 Million (USYS, US Club, SAY, AYSO, and SuperY)
US Development Academy = 1.4 Million
Roughly 5.3 Million from Youth.
Expenses Related to Youth
US Soccer will spend roughly 32 Million, which is broken down as follows:
3.2 Million Youth National Team Coaches and Olympic Admin (for Youth)
5.2 Million Boys/Men (U14-U23) National Team
6.2 Million Girls/Women (U14-U23) National Team
3.5 Million - Program Performance (Sports Medicine and High Performance)
14.2 Million - Development Programs (Club Dev., Tech. Dev., Scouting and Development Academy)
Just for the record, the USSDA contributes $1.4 Million in registration fees and US Soccer will pay out $8.7 Million to support it.
Note, US Soccer receive no revenue related to the Youth National Teams, only expenses. There is no prize money (unlike the Men and Women World Cup) and tickets sales don't factor unless games are held in the US AND tickets are sold.
In other words, "Youth" contribute about 5.3 million and US Soccer will expend 32 million in 2020 on those same Youth. Although about 3.7 is for the U20 and U23's.
This statement is patently false:
Ironically, USSF generates more revenue from Youth registration fees than it invests back into the development of youth programs.
US Soccer spends about 5x more on Youth than its receives from Youth (which is entirely in the form of membership fees). How that money is spent is voted on by all the "voting members" with the Professional and Athletes Council, which have aligned interests making up 46% of the vote.
I simply do not agree with the criticism.
AGM Book with Budget:
http://www.ussocceragm.com/book-of-reports