House Republicans are urging the Trump administration to allocate hundreds of millions in funding to their organizations, citing ongoing bias against conservatives, censorship, and perceived diplomatic interference.
In May, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed cutting federal support for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), attributing this to a history of partisan advocacy against the Republican Party. However, the House Budget Subcommittee on National Security has moved forward, planning to provide $315 million to the NED for the upcoming fiscal year.
A senior White House official informed that funding for the NED is part of a larger spending package, which will need Congressional approval and the president’s signature.
Established by Congress in 1983, NED is a private nonprofit aiming to promote democratic values globally. While they maintain that they don’t engage in domestic political activities, critics counter that they’ve become a tool for partisan influence, including attempts to silence conservative media.
In 2020, NED funded an organization in the UK called the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), which allegedly classified various conservative media outlets as “high-risk” and aimed to inhibit their advertising revenues.
Critics claim that NED has diverged from its intended purpose, delving into geopolitics and managing millions in foreign subsidies annually. Some Republican lawmakers, like Arizona’s Eli Crane, have echoed this sentiment, even introducing legislation to halt taxpayer funding for the agency.
The chair of the House subcommittee overseeing the recent spending bill, Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, has not commented on this issue.
Damon Wilson, NED’s president, previously commented on Trump’s divisive impact on both American citizens and democratic allies. This sentiment reflects concerns from some officials, including Victoria Nuland, a board member who has played prominent roles in varying administrations.
While NED is legally required to maintain a bipartisan board, critics argue that even those identifying as Republicans show public hostility toward Trump. For instance, Victor Cha, another board member, has been quoted expressing that he wants his party to succeed but is also concerned about what he views as rising authoritarianism.
The NED’s publication, the Journal of Democracy, also faced backlash for its perceived bias against conservatives. In recent years, the organization’s federal funding has significantly increased, rising from under $200 million in 2019 to about $300 million by 2022.
NED claims it also receives limited private contributions, but several of its associated organizations have reportedly been funded by sources like George Soros’s Open Society Foundation.
During Trump’s presidency, attempts were made to dramatically cut NED’s funding, yet the agency has since sought legal recourse to regain its budget. NED has not responded to inquiries for comment.
