Since returning to office, President Donald Trump’s administration has significantly altered U.S. foreign aid programs, labeling many established 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 support 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 including those focused on issues related to South Africa. The administration has expressed serious concerns about the human rights situation in South Africa, particularly regarding claims of violence against white South Africans.

In the past 18 months, Trump has argued that there is a genocide of white South Africans and has used these claims to justify cutting off U.S. funding for HIV treatment and research in the region. One proposed grant, initially set at $5 million and later opened to a broader set of groups for $1 million in funding, aims to support research and advocacy against restrictive online safety and hate speech laws. This grant is also linked to supporting individuals facing “deplatforming.”

The State Department declined to confirm whether the British organization Lex Libertas, which has been associated with these issues, will be invited to compete for the grant, citing ongoing deliberations. Lex Libertas’s founder stated the group had neither applied for nor received any U.S. government grants.

Additionally, a call for proposals from the bureau would fund research, conferences, and cultural engagements in wealthy democracies to foster "civilizational self-confidence in Europe."

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

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