Since returning to office, President Donald Trump’s administration has significantly altered U.S. foreign aid programs, labeling many longstanding initiatives as misaligned with American interests and cutting their budgets. Despite these cuts, billions of dollars allocated by Congress for foreign aid must still be spent, with lawmakers insisting on continued funding for humanitarian aid, global health, and pro-democracy efforts worldwide.

A recent investigation by ProPublica uncovered that a lesser-known bureau within the State Department has undergone dramatic transformation under Trump, redirecting funds to new and sometimes controversial projects. Among these is a proposal to fund research on crime against Afrikaners in South Africa, reflecting the administration's expressed concerns about human rights in the region.

The State Department declined to confirm whether the British organization Lex Libertas, which has been linked to these efforts, will be invited to compete for a $1 million grant. The administration cited ongoing deliberations but emphasized serious concerns about South Africa’s human rights situation. Over the past 18 months, Trump has claimed there is a genocide of white South Africans and used allegations of disproportionate violence against white people to justify cutting off U.S. funding for HIV treatment and research in the country.

Additionally, a proposed $5 million grant aims to support individuals facing “deplatforming” and to oppose “restrictive online safety and hate speech laws,” according to documents reviewed by ProPublica. The organization’s founder denied applying for or receiving any U.S. government grants. The bureau also recently issued a call for proposals to fund research, conferences, and cultural engagements in wealthy democracies to foster “civilizational self-confidence in Europe.”

These developments illustrate a marked shift in U.S. foreign aid priorities under the Trump administration, focusing on narrower geopolitical and ideological concerns.

Sources