Since returning to office, President Donald Trump’s administration has significantly altered U.S. foreign aid programs, labeling many established initiatives as “not aligned with American interests” and reducing 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 little-known bureau within the State Department, which has undergone dramatic transformation under Trump, is now considering funding groups focused on issues such as crime against Afrikaners in South Africa. The State Department declined to confirm whether the British organization Lex Libertas, which has been linked to this focus, will be invited to compete for a $1 million grant. However, officials stated that the Trump administration has serious concerns about the human rights situation in South Africa that need to be addressed.

Over the past 18 months, Trump has claimed there is a genocide of white South Africans and cited disproportionate violence against white people as justification for cutting U.S. funding for HIV treatment and research in the region. A proposed $5 million grant would support individuals facing “deplatforming” and 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.

Additionally, the bureau has released calls for proposals to fund research, conferences, and cultural engagements in wealthy democracies aimed at fostering “civilizational self-confidence in Europe.”

This shift in foreign aid priorities reflects a broader realignment under the Trump administration, moving away from traditional programs toward more narrowly focused initiatives.

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