AnewZ: USAID grant suspension causes panic in European media

The suspension of foreign grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) due to lack of transparency in financial flows has sparked debates about foreign influence in European journalism, reads an AnewZ story about media funding by USAID, Report informs.

The material, focusing on USAID's operational mechanism, notes that although the organization is formally an independent agency, it reports directly to the US president, secretary of state, and National Security Council.

"Officially, USAID is engaged in providing humanitarian aid, economic development, and promoting democratic initiatives. However, besides this, the agency has also played a significant role in funding media and NGOs, seeking to influence public opinion and internal processes in various countries. Due to these activities, USAID is currently under close scrutiny," reads the message.

Analysts believe that USAID projects were aimed at supporting individuals and programs separated from certain political ideologies. Agency critics argue that such funding raises questions about media impartiality, especially regarding narratives closely tied to US foreign policy interests. Now critics, especially among American Republicans, are drawing attention to the fact that in 2023-2024, BBC Media Action received $3 million from USAID.

Some experts in the UK believe that the USAID situation provides the United Kingdom with an opportunity to fill the gap in international development projects, strengthening soft power. According to the AnewZ correspondent from London, in early February, the head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk confirmed in his speech the claims about BBC funding from the US Agency for International Development.

"These claims were based on financial support that USAID provided to the international development charity within the BBC structure. Although BBC Media Action operates independently from BBC News, and the relevant funding contributes to global development initiatives, this claim has sparked serious debate," the material states. The story also mentions USAID activities in Germany. While it's unclear whether direct funding was provided to German media, it notes that USAID supported fact-checking initiatives and measures to combat disinformation in Germany through media non-governmental organizations.

"US aid projects worked with German institutions to counter Russian narratives. This raised concerns about possible collusion of government media in information wars. The lack of transparency in these financial flows led to discussions about foreign influence on European journalism."

The journalist believes that if the funding freeze continues, Europeans may have to fill the resulting gap: "Currently, the European Commission is the second-largest humanitarian aid donor after the US, and the German government ranks third. In this regard, possible consequences of US withdrawal from USAID funding for European media organizations are being actively discussed, and Europeans may have to fill the gap."

The story also focuses on the Hungarian government's position regarding USAID. It reports that Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused the agency of financially supporting Hungarian opposition media organizations to weaken his government. The material also emphasizes that after USAID funding ceased, many media organizations in Hungary are now struggling to find financial support. The report also states that 90% of Ukrainian media receive financial support from the US. In 2024 alone, more than $6 billion was allocated to Ukrainian media.

"Although USAID support provided to media in Ukraine is presented as a way to combat Russian disinformation, critics argue that it blurs the line between journalism and strategic influence. Due to the USAID funding freeze, Ukrainian media organizations that have long depended on foreign grants are now trying to survive," reads the message.