The Trump administration has directed more than $175m of the state department's flagship human rights fund to awards including a $40m anti-communism grant and support for white Afrikaner rights in South Africa, the Guardian reports, moving ahead despite congressional concerns. The state department had not responded to a request for comment at the time of reporting.
Key facts
- More than $175m from the state department's human rights fund was obligated to a new slate of grantees, according to the Guardian.
- The awards include a $40m anti-communism fund and support for a group advancing white Afrikaner rights in South Africa, the Guardian reports.
- Other programs reportedly target Brazil's supreme court and reward European allies who protect 'western civilizational norms'.
- The funds were obligated hours before the deadline despite requests from Congress not to proceed, a source told the Guardian.
- The Guardian said it had reached out to the state department for comment; no response was reported.
The Trump administration is directing more than $175m of the state department’s flagship human rights fund to a slate of awards, the Guardian reports, in what the outlet describes as a reflection of a far-right policy agenda abroad. The move came with hours left before the funding was set to expire.
Among the awards is a $40m grant for an anti-communism fund, along with support for a group advancing white Afrikaner rights in South Africa, a campaign against Brazil’s supreme court, and programs that would reward ideological allies in Europe who protect what the Guardian said the state department framed as ‘western civilizational norms’.
The Guardian reports that the state department obligated the funds to the grantees on Wednesday, hours before the deadline. A source familiar with the negotiations said the department proceeded despite congressional concerns and explicit requests not to release the money.
The Guardian said it had reached out to the state department for comment on whether it had overridden holds placed by Congress, which had raised concerns about how the funds would be used. No response from the department was reported.
According to the Guardian, the decisions illustrate how the administration is redefining what qualifies as human rights, channeling money toward causes aligned with its ideological priorities rather than traditional human rights programming. That characterisation is the outlet’s; the state department’s position was not available at the time of reporting.
The reporting centers on the timing and content of the awards, noting that the obligations were finalized under deadline pressure and against the wishes of lawmakers who had sought to pause the disbursements.
Why it matters
How the US government defines and funds human rights shapes its influence and credibility on the world stage. Redirecting a flagship fund over the objections of Congress raises questions about oversight and the purpose of American foreign assistance, though the state department had not responded to the reporting.
Frequently asked questions
How much money was redirected?
According to the Guardian, more than $175m from the state department's flagship human rights fund was obligated to the new slate of awards.
What kinds of programs received the funding?
The Guardian reports the awards include a $40m anti-communism fund, support for a group advancing white Afrikaner rights in South Africa, a campaign against Brazil's supreme court, and programs rewarding European allies who protect 'western civilizational norms'.
Did Congress object?
Yes. A source familiar with the negotiations told the Guardian that the state department obligated the funds despite congressional concerns and requests not to do so, hours before the funding deadline.