USA02 October, 20262 min read
Trump Administration Redirects State Department Human Rights Funds To Far-Right Causes
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State Department redirected millions from Democracy Funds to far-right causes, including Afrikaner rights. Funds came from nearly $177 million in Democracy Funds.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Funds Shifted to Far-Right
The US State Department directed millions of dollars originally earmarked to promote human rights toward far-right causes, including Afrikaner rights in South Africa, “safeguarding Western civilizational norms,” and documenting “backsliding” in Europe related to mass migration, according to a source familiar with the matter. The funds came from the nearly $177 million in Democracy Funds and were obligated despite concerns and holds by the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with the source saying they were due to lapse on Wednesday, the last day of the fiscal year.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, “We will never apologize for defending Western civilization, opposing censorship, ending the era of mass migration, and taking action against government-sponsored race-based discrimination in South Africa.” Senator Jeanne Shaheen said, “In bypassing Congress, the Trump Administration is now using taxpayer funds to promote far-right organizations and programs in established democracies,” and she added that the move undermines American values and relationships with democratic partners, including allies in Europe.
Rubio Signed Despite Holds
Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed off on a memo to obligate the funds despite ongoing holds, according to the source familiar with the matter.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen put holds on 10 proposed awards worth a total of $22 million, and the White House referred the inquiry to the State Department for comment.
CNN reported that the proposed grants included a $5 million award to support the development of “a civilizational alliance in Europe through research, public debates, and policy reform to safeguard freedom of expression, political competition, and national sovereignty.”
Samuel Samson argued for “civilizational allies” in Europe, writing, “Our hope is that both Europe and the United States can recommit to our Western heritage, and that European nations will end the weaponization of government against those seeking to defend it.”
Brazil Investigation and Tensions
Brazil’s Attorney General’s office urged the Federal Police (PF) and the General Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) to investigate alleged funding by the United States aimed at interfering in Brazilian elections and delegitimizing the Federal Supreme Court (STF), according to a report citing information deemed “especially serious” published by The Guardian. The Union’s General Attorney’s Office (AGU) warned that, “If proven, the reception of foreign capital to promote organized and systematic attacks against national sovereignty and the functioning of Brazil’s judicial system,” could reveal “a structure of external interference in Brazil’s internal affairs.”
The request came after media reports said the United States administration allocated one million dollars (5.2 million reais) to a project to fund organizations that challenge the STF and oppose what the White House calls the court’s “judicial excesses.” The report also said Brazil will hold its general elections on October 4, and it described the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as having blocked 10 funding allocations totaling 22 million dollars while the State Department allocated the funds to beneficiaries hours before the deadline.