US stops attempts to condemn Kazakhstan
Washington - The administration of US President Donald Trump has blocked "counter-disinformation" programs funded by the Biden administration, a move that has led to sharp restrictions on the activities of the USAID agency and the deletion of its official website and social media accounts.
USAID funds frozen
According to White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt, the Biden administration allocated $4.5 million to combat disinformation in Kazakhstan. The Trump administration has decided to immediately end this program.
Also during the Biden era:
Gender reassignment programs in Guatemala – $2 million,
Tourism development in Egypt – $6 million,
"Sesame Street" TV channel in Iraq - funded with $20 million.
Leavitt questioned how these expenditures would benefit American interests.
USAID projects under criticism in Kazakhstan
Kazakh MP Vakhit Magerramov has proposed an audit of USAID projects. According to him, the agency spent $2 million in 2022-2025 to "promote human rights" in Central Asia. Magerramov criticized the fact that these funds were directed to European LGBT organizations, noting that Kazakh society has expressed dissatisfaction with this.
USAID's suspension has affected the media
USAID funds frozen:
It has affected independent journalistic organizations in Russia, Iran, Belarus, and Ukraine.
90% of media outlets in Ukraine depend on USAID funds, and they are now under threat of funding.
Trump has officially frozen USAID funding for 90 days, but the budget review process could lead to a complete cancellation of the aid.
Georgia supports Trump's decision
The Georgian government has said it does not want Washington-funded media outlets to resume operations. As a result, independent journalism organizations that rely on USAID funds are looking for new sources of funding.
However, analysts say Trump's "shock freeze" could be disastrous for many independent media platforms.
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