Top Trump figures push to direct human rights funding to rightwing causes
Support for white Afrikaners, anti-communism and others reveals how US redefining what qualifies as human rights With hours left before the funding expires, the Trump administration is pushing to direct more than $175m of the state department’s flagship human rights fund to a slate of awards that includes a massive $40m grant for an anti-communism fund, support for a group advancing white…
As the clock ticks down on a $205 million funding period, the Trump administration is making a concerted effort to steer over $175 million of the State Department's leading human rights grant towards a collection of awards that include a substantial $40 million grant for an anti-communism fund, support for a group advocating for white Afrikaner rights in South Africa, an opposition to Brazil's supreme court, and programs that would acknowledge ideological allies in Europe who safeguard "western civilisational norms."
Critics have zeroed in on 43 awards totaling $176.9 million, which will champion rightwing and conservative initiatives around the globe, potentially sparking anger among US allies over interference in their internal affairs. Among those who have laid eyes on the controversial grants is The Guardian, who is presented with a sample that comprises the bulk of the $205 million allocated for the Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF) by Congress.
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