The State Department directed millions of dollars from a nearly $177 million Democracy Fund to programs focused on Afrikaner rights, “Western civilizational norms” and alleged “backsliding” in Europe related to mass migration, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. The grants shift the fund’s focus toward migration, national sovereignty and free speech in established democracies, even as a Senate committee leader placed holds on some awards.
Where the money is going
The proposed grants include a $5 million award to support “a civilizational alliance in Europe through research, public debates, and policy reform to safeguard freedom of expression, political competition, and national sovereignty.” Other proposed awards address Brazil, South Africa and Nigeria. The administration has clashed with the governments of Brazil and South Africa, and has alleged “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria.
Democracy Fund money typically supports programs in authoritarian countries or countries with limited democracies, the source told CNN. These proposed grants, by contrast, include programs in Europe and the United Kingdom. The Guardian first reported the proposed grants.
The source said the funds came from nearly $177 million in Democracy Funds and were obligated despite concerns and holds by the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The money was due to lapse Wednesday, the last day of the fiscal year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memo to obligate the funds despite the holds, the source said.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen had placed holds on 10 proposed awards totaling $22 million. The source said the grants had support from the White House’s highest levels, including Vice President JD Vance. The White House referred questions to the State Department. An unnamed State Department spokesperson said the department had completed congressional notification requirements.
A dispute over the fund’s purpose
Shaheen said Congress appropriated the money to support human rights defenders, assist victims of human rights violations and promote democracy abroad. “In bypassing Congress, the Trump Administration is now using taxpayer funds to promote far-right organizations and programs in established democracies,” she said. Shaheen called it “a waste of resources” and said it undermines U.S. values and relationships with democratic partners, including allies in Europe.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott described the administration’s priorities differently. “The President promised to combat the destructive woke agenda that has done so much damage to our country and to the world,” he said. “We will never apologize for defending Western civilization, opposing censorship, ending the era of mass migration, and taking action against government-sponsored race-based discrimination in South Africa.”
The administration’s action follows its move to cancel $810 million appropriated by Congress for refugees, immigrants and other services. The proposed Democracy Fund grants focus on alleged free-speech suppression, mass migration in Europe and “natural rights,” rather than the fund’s typical programs in authoritarian or limited-democracy settings.
European and Brazilian targets
One grant subject to a hold would address alleged judicial overreach and censorship in Brazil. The Trump administration has clashed with the Lula government and imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. The United States lifted the sanctions in December. It also revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the U.S., and President Donald Trump met with Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro’s son, who is running for president in Brazil.
Top administration officials, including Vance, have criticized European nations over allegations of free-speech backsliding and met with far-right European political figures. Last year, Samuel Samson, a top appointee in the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, argued for “civilizational allies” in Europe. He wrote: “Our hope is that both Europe and the United States can recommit to our Western heritage, and that European nations will end the weaponization of government against those seeking to defend it.”
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor has changed significantly under the second Trump administration. CNN previously reported that diplomats would have to describe enforcement of diversity, equity and inclusion policies, alleged facilitation of mass migration, and government funding that supports abortion medications as “human rights infringements” in the next human rights report. An official said the report would also shift focus to “natural rights” such as freedom of speech, a change likely to target traditional European allies over alleged speech restrictions.