Trump administration diverts human rights funds to push far-right agenda abroad

Afrikaner refugees from South Africa hold American flags as they arrive at Dulles airport in Washington last May. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/APView image in fullscreenAfrikaner refugees from South Africa hold American flags as they arrive at Dulles airport in Washington last May.

Fotografia: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/APUS política externa A administração Trump desvia fundos de direitos humanos para promover agenda de extrema-direita no exterior O apoio a Afrikaners brancos, anti-comunismo e outros revela como os EUA estão redefinindo o que qualifica como direitos humanos.

On Wednesday, the state department obligated the funds to the grantees hours before the deadline despite congressional concerns and requests not to do so, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

O The Guardian entrou em contato com o Departamento de Estado para obter comentários sobre se ele teria “blown” as retenções do Congresso sobre a liberação dos fundos devido a preocupações sobre seu uso.

Sources with knowledge of the grant process have told the Guardian that the awards were personally lobbied for by members of the Trump administration, and reflect interests that include JD Vance’s warnings of the collapse of traditional western values in Europe and Stephen Miller’s push against immigration and to support white minorities in countries like South Africa.

The proposed awards represent a significant shift in US support for dissidents, human rights defenders and civil society groups under authoritarian governments.

A nova lista inclui projetos em nações ricas e aqueles focados na oposição à regulamentação, ao Brexit, à migração, ao anti-comunismo, à proteção cristã e à oposição à “gender ideology”, oferecendo uma janela para como a administração Trump está redefinindo o que qualifica como direitos humanos e merece dezenas de milhões de dólares em assistência externa dos EUA.

The vetting document also identifies Andrew Bremberg, a former Trump White House domestic policy adviser and US ambassador to the UN European office, as a “senior leader” of the foundation.

In July, ProPublica reported that Samuel Samson, a 27-year-old deputy assistant secretary overseeing the new grants, was linked to senior members of VOC through his studies at the Christian conservative Hillsdale College graduate program.

(A funcionário do Departamento de Estado então disse à reportagem que a relação não tinha nada a ver com a concessão.).

O departamento estadual não comentou sobre concessões individuais, mas disse que os programas ainda estavam em “active deliberation”, que os beneficiários atenderiam às diretrizes de subsídios federais e que toda a programação passaria por um “standard and rigorous vetting process by grant professionals”.

Under the legislation authorizing the fund, the money must be assigned by 30 September, the end of the fiscal year, when unobligated funds typically lapse. Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate foreign relations committee, has put a partial “hold” on giving the grants to some of the controversial awardees – setting up a showdown with the state department with just hours left for the money to be obligated.

ProPublica first reported that Trump officials had drawn up at least a dozen no-bid grants aimed at rightwing and anti-immigration causes in Europe and advocates for white South Africans.

The document now shows how much of the fund the plan takes up, and which awards have since been dropped.

A administração Trump sancionou o juiz brasileiro Alexandre de Moraes no ano passado após lobby de Eduardo Bolsonaro, filho do ex‑presidente.

It names possible recipients in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Balkans with “anti-communist” and “natural rights” approaches.

The grant would have paid the group to campaign against online safety and hate speech laws, including Britain’s Online Safety Act, a law passed under the Conservatives in 2023.

Meant to protect children from harmful content and is enforced by Ofcom, its age-verification rules – which took effect last year – have drawn constant criticism from the Trump administration, which cast them as censorship.

It was founded by Jacob Rees-Mogg, who served as Brexit opportunities minister and business secretary before losing his seat at the 2024 election, and now presents on GB News.