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◆ Mixed look for ShaheenForeign PolicyBudget / Spending

Trump administration shifts funds from human rights to supporting far-right causes

Shaheen placed holds on proposed awards and criticized the administration's use of Democracy Fund money.

Trump administration shifts funds from human rights to supporting far-right causes
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This article1 analysis · Oct 3, 2026
tl;dr

The State Department redirected Democracy Fund money toward grants supporting far-right causes, despite holds placed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. The dispute raises questions about congressional oversight and how the funds are being used.

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Jeanne Shaheen D · NH · SEN
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Jeanne Shaheen
D · NH · SEN

Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member who placed holds on proposed grants

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration shifted the funding

J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States

Vice President whose support for the grants was reported

Marco Rubio
Secretary of State

Secretary of State who signed off on the memo obligating the funds

ALSO MENTIONED  Alexandre de Moraes, Brazilian Supreme Court justice who oversaw Jair Bolsonaro's trial; Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazilian presidential candidate who met with Donald Trump; Jair Bolsonaro, Former Brazilian president and Trump ally; Lula, President of Brazil, whose government is described as having clashed with the Trump administration; Samuel Samson, State Department appointee who argued for European “civilizational allies”; Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesperson who defended the administration's priorities

Part of a bigger story

2 OUTLETS
State Department Redirects Human Rights Funds to Far-Right Causes

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