For many years, the U.S. Department of State has directed funds to organizations focused on free speech, human rights, and aiding persecuted minorities in impoverished and authoritarian nations. Ordinarily, expert staff analyzed extensive information about abuses under harsh regimes to determine funding decisions and conducted open competitions for funding such groups.
In 2025, the Trump administration introduced significant changes. Officials provided State Department staff with a list of organizations they preferred for funding, bypassing the typical competitive process in more than a dozen proposed grants. This list included groups aligned with conservative and anti-immigration movements in Europe, as well as advocates for white South Africans.
One notable organization considered for funding was a British free-speech group opposed to bans on “gay conversion therapy” and an Afrikaner group seeking self-governance for South Africa’s white ethnic minority. Such funding deviates from traditional aid that documented torture, political violence, and other atrocities globally.
“I’ve never before seen U.S. government funding for such groups,” said William Allchorn, an expert on radical-right extremism in the United Kingdom.
Concerns arose about a $4.9 million program focused on developing “civilizational self-confidence in Europe,” aimed at research and cultural engagements without altering legislative processes. Experts worry about potential U.S. influence in allied countries’ politics.
Feedback from Congress led to the abandonment of a grant to a British-American think tank intended to renew Judeo-Christian culture and civilization.
The usual State Department approach required open bidding to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, awarding grants directly in rare, justified cases. This year’s approach lacks those justifications, experts asserted. Handpicked grant recipients under the Trump administration, often made by political appointees, marked a notable departure from former evaluative panels based on qualifications.
Funding high-income countries without an internal waiver raised further complications. Congress members expressed skepticism over grant plans lacking competitiveness, based on internal briefings.
The State Department limited its commentary on ongoing deliberations, ensuring grant standards fulfillment. Critics argued that grants follow political ideology over taxpayer interests and national security.
Key figures like Samuel Samson, a deputy assistant secretary, played pivotal roles in this funding shift. Samson, connected to the Human Rights Bureau since Trump’s inauguration, prioritized grants supporting shared civilizational struggles between U.S. and Europe, defending agency plans to lawmakers.
Among expected no-bid grant recipients is the Free Speech Union, opposing “cancel culture” and bans on gay conversion. The $5 million grant targets digital regulation, deplatforming assistance, and advocacy against restrictive online laws.
Supporters of such groups believe U.S. involvement lends them legitimacy. However, Free Speech Union’s founder Toby Young denied applying for or receiving any U.S. government grants.
An unprecedented $40 million grant was proposed for the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, overshadowing previous funding for such organizations. Concerns emerged over its ability to manage the sizeable fund, given its existing $12 million asset base.
Samson’s connections with foundation board members Elizabeth and Matthew Spalding attracted scrutiny, though an official denied influencing the grant award. The grant aimed to amplify dissident voices against authoritarian regimes.
Funds were also planned for researching crimes against minority populations in South Africa, particularly related to the group Lex Libertas. Critics questioned focusing on white South African farmers given regional disparities in victimization rates.
Congressional objections led to halting a grant proposal for 878, a British-American think tank centered on Anglo-American values. The decision reflected broader discontent over recent grant selections.
The State Department long advocated for international human rights and democracy, targeting labor standards and marginalized communities. However, changes in leadership, particularly under Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump, altered the bureau’s focus and budget distribution.
Currently, the bureau faces budget reductions, with a new agenda aiming to reflect government strategy. “We’re implementing the president’s agenda as directed,” affirmed a State Department official.
Amidst shifts, the State Department continues active deliberations on funding processes while ensuring adherence to established standards.