The U.S. Department of State canceled 139 grants for foreign projects in media, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with a total value of $214 million, the conservative outlet The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday, April 15.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the decision and ordered its implementation the same day, April 15, according to Deutsche Welle.
The cuts affected several countries, including Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom. As a result, the U.S. stopped funding initiatives such as promoting “media diversity” in the U.K., encouraging “civic participation” in Uzbekistan, supporting “newsroom resilience” in Moldova, combating “disinformation” in Belarus, and fostering “environmental sustainability” in Armenia.
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According to the cited source, the State Department reviewed foreign assistance programs at the end of February. Then, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—led by Elon Musk—performed an additional review that led to a broader list of programs to defund.
The State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) funded most of the later canceled projects.
“These programs focus on wasteful DEI initiatives, funding NGOs whose activities do not align with the current administration’s priorities and waste taxpayer dollars,” stated an internal memo from the Department, quoted by The Washington Free Beacon.