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 changes, 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, which has undergone dramatic transformation under Trump, is now managing much of this redirected aid. Among the proposals considered was funding research on crime against Afrikaners in South Africa.

The State Department declined to confirm whether the British organization Lex Libertas, known for its free-speech advocacy, would be invited to compete for a $1 million grant related to these efforts. However, officials stated that the Trump administration holds serious concerns about human rights conditions in South Africa that require attention.

Over the past 18 months, President Trump has asserted there is a genocide of white South Africans and cited claims of disproportionate violence against white people to justify cutting U.S. funding for HIV treatment and research in the region.

Additionally, 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 bureau also released a call for proposals to fund research, conferences, and cultural engagements aimed at fostering "civilizational self-confidence in Europe."

The investigation highlights a notable shift in U.S. foreign aid priorities under the Trump administration, focusing on narrower issues and groups, including those connected to South Africa’s white minority.

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