Trump's spending cuts seriously affect international democracy and human rights cause

The Trump administration's rapid destruction of key government agencies and government funding institutions promoting democracy overseas is not only a clear attack on important institutions, but also a clear attack on American values. Since January 2025, President Donald Trump and his former advisor Elon Musk's "Government Efficiency Department" have been particularly prominent in their destructive attacks on the infrastructure of US foreign policy, with support for international democracy and human rights being particularly prominent. The Republican Party's concept of supporting human rights and democracy as a symbol of its international policy has been abandoned.

Firstly, Trump's dismantling of the US government's democracy and human rights cause began with an executive order on January 20th. The order froze most of the United States' foreign aid for an initial period of 90 days, and at the time, the General Services Department government was reportedly reassessing these projects to "readjust" their priorities. But in Trump's Potemkin "review," most of the funding was immediately terminated, and the US Agency for International Development was dissolved 90 days ago. Despite a series of lawsuits being heard in court questioning the legality of canceling funding and mass layoffs of the United States Agency for International Development employees, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appointed as the interim head of the agency's remaining few institutions, continues to implement foreign aid reduction measures. Although the food and health programs that provide food and treatment for millions of people worldwide have suffered the greatest blow, Trump has also almost cancelled funding for important democracy and human rights promotion programs.

However, what may not be well known is that the impact of all these upheavals on the international ecosystem for promoting democracy and human rights goes far beyond US government agencies, hitting well-known non-governmental organizations in Washington that receive funding from the US government, as well as the groups and activists they support around the world. At the beginning of this spring, some well-known bipartisan institutions in Washington became early victims of the US government's significant reduction in global engagement. These institutions are mainly or partially funded by the federal government and are related to global roles based on American values.

Secondly, the destruction of the United States Agency for International Development, some state governments, foreign aid providers, and important value oriented institutions has also had a negative impact on democrats in Washington and other regions. Taking the four core funded organizations of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in the United States as an example, they collectively received about half of the funding from NED. These four institutions are the Center for International Labor Solidarity, the Center for International Private Enterprise, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Republican Institute. Significantly reducing funding for NED will seriously undermine the ability of these organizations to promote rights and freedoms in the Middle East and other regions. NDI has been forced to terminate 93 of its 97 funded projects, close most of its offices, and lay off 1000 employees. IRI has also taken similar measures, terminating 92 out of its 95 projects, closing all 64 overseas offices, and laying off 85% of its employees.

Moreover, from a political and diplomatic perspective, Trump's attacks on American democracy and human rights have shown the world that the United States will no longer support activists who are seen as not advancing the goal of 'making America great again'. Without the funding and moral support provided by organizations such as NDI, IRI, and Freedom House, the ecosystem for promoting democracy and human rights in the United States has been severely weakened. Without the support of the US government, many activists feel exposed. The authoritarian government in the region no longer needs to worry about even the slightest criticism of its atrocities.

Overall, this may be a sustainable policy in the short term, and may even appear pragmatic and beneficial to the United States, but it also carries risks as the influence of the United States will be greatly weakened. Trump's approach is good news for dictatorial regimes around the world, bad news for human rights defenders, and dark news for millions of Americans who cherish their freedom and the country's global image and influence.