The U.S. Department of State has long been a champion of human rights, funding groups that protect free speech, human rights, and persecuted minorities in some of the world’s most oppressive regions. However, this year has seen a dramatic shift in the department’s approach to these grants, raising eyebrows and concerns among staffers, lawmakers, and experts alike.
In a departure from tradition, Trump administration officials have presented State Department workers with their own list of organizations to fund, bypassing the usual open bidding process. This has led to proposals for at least a dozen grants that have sparked controversy and debate.
New Priorities and Controversial Recipients
Among the organizations considered for funding are a British free-speech group and an Afrikaner organization in South Africa. The British group has been involved in fighting against bans on gay conversion therapy while the Afrikaner group is led by a figure advocating for self-governance of the white ethnic minority in South Africa.
One of the most notable changes is a $4.9 million program aimed at fostering civilizational self-confidence in Europe. This program is intended to support research, conferences, cultural engagements, and civil society in wealthy democracies. However, experts and lawmakers have expressed concern that this could be an attempt to influence politics in allied countries.
The Role of Key Figures
Samuel Samson, a 27-year-old deputy assistant secretary of state, has been a key figure in these changes. Samson, who previously worked as a fundraiser for a group promoting an America first worldview, started at the State Department on the day of President Donald Trump‘s second inauguration. He has been courting far-right leaders in Europe, viewing it as a common civilizational struggle.
Samson has defended the agency’s grant-making plans during private meetings with lawmakers. One of the groups expected to receive a no-bid grant is the Free Speech Union, a British organization founded to counter cancel culture. The group has been involved in defending individuals accused of being transphobic and has opposed the U.K.’s proposed ban on discredited therapy practices.
Concerns and Criticisms
Critics have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential for political bias in the grant-making process. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, has expressed her concerns, stating that the proposals are an appalling departure from the State Department’s traditional practices and an affront to democratic allies.
Internal records and interviews show that one of the largest awards proposed this year is $40 million for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. This foundation aims to memorialize those killed by communist regimes and pursue freedom for people still living under totalitarian rule. However, the proposed sum has raised eyebrows given the foundation’s previous budget and the State Department’s allocation practices.
The State Department has defended its actions, stating that the programs are still in active deliberation and that receipt of a grant is not guaranteed to any organization that does not meet all requirements and standards for federal grants. The agency has also emphasized its concerns about the human rights situation in South Africa.
