Shouting \"development and humanitarian assistance,\" the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has long presented itself as a force for good since its establishment in 1961. However, recent actions by the Donald Trump administration to freeze foreign aid have cast a different light on the agency's role. This move suggests that USAID, which brands itself as an \"independent government agency,\" may be a key player in Washington's information strategy worldwide.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticized Trump's freeze, stating it is \"plunging NGOs, media outlets, and journalists doing vital work into chaotic uncertainty.\" This comment implicitly acknowledges that a significant portion of global journalism is funded by American dollars.
Data from 2023 highlights USAID's extensive involvement in media support. The agency funded training and support for 6,200 journalists, assisted 707 non-state news outlets, and supported 279 media sector civil society organizations aimed at strengthening independent media, according to Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of RSF USA. Additionally, The Washington Post reported that over 50 percent of media outlets receiving foreign grants were dependent on the U.S.
Mainstream Western media outlets, including the New York Times and the BBC, have also been impacted by shifts in U.S. funding. BBC Media Action, for instance, revealed that the temporary pause in U.S. government funding accounted for about 8 percent of their income in 2023-24.
Journalist Ian Miles Cheong from Malaysia highlighted the extent of U.S. financial involvement by sharing screenshots from USAspending.gov on social media. These records show that Washington allocated $4.1 million to the New York Times in August 2024 alone.
Despite their claims of independent and unbiased reporting, these media outlets rely heavily on U.S. government funding. This financial dependence raises concerns about the alignment of their content with specific political agendas, challenging their ability to maintain an unbiased stance on international affairs.
By funding so-called independent media outlets, USAID appears to act as the U.S. government's \"white gloves,\" utilizing media as a tool to influence public opinion, incite division, interfere in other nations' internal matters, and conduct ideological infiltration in states considered rivals by Washington—all under the guise of promoting democracy.
