The Trump administration has redirected more than $175 million from a US State Department fund traditionally used for human rights and democracy programs toward projects supporting causes associated with conservative and far-right movements overseas, according to reporting by The Guardian and CNN.

The funding comes from the State Department’s Human Rights and Democracy Fund, which has typically supported human rights defenders, democratic institutions and programs in countries with limited democratic systems. The newly proposed awards instead include initiatives involving South Africa, Brazil, Europe, the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

Funding Includes Projects in South Africa and Europe

Among the proposed programs are projects related to the rights of Afrikaner and other minority communities in South Africa. A separate State Department grant opportunity published on Grants.gov sought funding to document violence and hateful rhetoric affecting minority populations in South Africa and to examine access to justice and law enforcement protection.

Other funding has been directed toward issues involving migration in Central and Eastern Europe. A State Department grant opportunity described efforts to study how foreign governments and other actors could use migration to create social and political tensions in European democracies.

One proposed European award reportedly involves developing what the program describes as a “civilizational alliance” focused on freedom of expression, political competition and national sovereignty.

Dispute Over Congressional Holds

The funding has also created a dispute between the administration and Democratic lawmakers.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had placed holds on 10 proposed awards worth about $22 million, according to the reporting. The grants covered projects involving Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria and European programs.

The administration nevertheless moved forward with the funding before the end of the fiscal year, according to people familiar with the matter.

Shaheen argued that Congress had intended the Democracy Fund to assist human rights defenders, victims of rights violations and democratic institutions.

The State Department, meanwhile, said it had completed the required congressional notification process. Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott defended the administration's approach, saying it would focus on issues including freedom of expression, migration and what the administration describes as race-based discrimination against South African minorities.

Brazil Grant Draws Attention

Brazil is another major focus of the proposed funding.

One program reportedly involves allegations of judicial overreach and censorship in Brazil. The issue comes as relations between the Trump administration and the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have been strained.

US lawmakers have also raised concerns about Washington's approach toward Brazil ahead of the country's 2026 presidential election. In a September 29 letter, Shaheen and Senators Tim Kaine and Peter Welch criticized recent US actions toward Brazil and asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the administration's approach to the country's democratic and judicial processes.

Administration Defends Its Approach

The State Department says the funding reflects a broader change in how the administration approaches human rights and democracy.

Officials have increasingly emphasized issues such as freedom of speech, opposition to censorship, migration and what they describe as “natural rights.” The administration has also promoted the idea of protecting Western cultural and political traditions.

Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, argue that this represents a significant departure from the traditional purpose of US democracy and human rights funding.

The Guardian reported that more than $175 million was directed through dozens of awards, including a major grant for an anti-communism organization and programs involving conservative causes in Europe and other regions.

Broader Fight Over Foreign Assistance

The dispute is part of a larger conflict between the Trump administration and Congress over the use of foreign assistance.

The administration has recently faced criticism from lawmakers over other efforts to redirect congressionally appropriated funds. On October 1, Shaheen and House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks separately accused the administration of improperly reprogramming more than $52 million in military assistance originally designated for Ukraine, European allies and Middle Eastern partners.

The State Department maintains that its funding decisions follow the administration's foreign-policy priorities and required procedures.

The latest dispute therefore goes beyond individual grants. It reflects a broader disagreement over what US democracy and human-rights programs should prioritize, how much discretion the executive branch has over congressionally approved funds, and how American foreign assistance should be used overseas.