US Foreign Aid Freeze Causes Turmoil Among Liberal Outlets and NGOs

(MENAFN) If you've been following social media recently, especially on X, you may have noticed a disturbing trend. Media outlets, human rights groups, and NGOs with liberal leanings are increasingly posting about financial struggles. Some are appealing for public donations, while others are announcing layoffs and significant budget cuts.

What's behind this unexpected crisis? The cause, in many instances, can be traced to the suspension of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For decades, USAID has been a major source of funding for numerous organizations. However, with its operations now frozen, many of these groups are facing a critical financial shortfall.

USAID has long been the largest provider of US government financial aid abroad, with an annual budget in the tens of billions. These funds have supported hundreds of global projects, addressing a range of issues such as poverty, hunger, and environmental protection. However, some of these projects have more ambiguous goals, such as “building civil society” or “promoting democracy.” In some cases, these initiatives have been seen as tools for furthering US political interests, occasionally with ties to intelligence agencies.

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