Representatives of dozens of non -profit organizations that attended a major human rights conference in Taipei, Taiwan, woke up last Thursday to the devastating news. During the night before in Asia, the Trump administration suddenly announced that it will end approximately 10,000 contracts and grants from the US State Department, including the Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) as well 90 percent Of the contracts of the American Agency for International Development in general.
This advertisement was the latest in a series of efforts made by the Trump administration and the so -called Ministry of Governmental efficiency (DOGE) to reduce foreign aid from the United States, which provided medical and humanitarian assistance to millions of people for decades. A letter sent from the American Agency for International Development has ordered the beneficiaries who were looked at WIRE to “immediately stop all activities, end all subawards and contracts”, and avoid incurring any additional expenses “beyond those costs that cannot be avoided associated with this termination notification.”
Many digital and human rights organizations that spoke to WIRED in Taipei-are mostly on the condition that their identity is not revealed for fear of revenge against the Trump administration or its governments-the discounts have undermined years of initiatives to build global democracy and freedom of expression, and put their lives and ways of life in the world around the world.
Many groups that were in rights, one of the largest annual events that focus on human rights and technology organized by non -profit access now, in particular on providing cybersecurity support for people such as journalists, activists and other weak groups in authoritarian countries, such as protexing and penetration of attacks aimed at mitigating. Without the United States Agency for International Development and Foreign Ministry, this work is likely to stop.
“The ecosystem of digital security has completely collapsed with NGOs completely,” says Mohamed Mascati, director of the ACCESS Now, who provides free digital security assistance to journalists, activists and civil society groups.
Which caused more confusion, just days after cancellation, some organizations say they received notifications that they were accidentally sent, according to the correspondence reviewed by WIRED. It is not clear how the Trump administration determines grants and organizations to be rescued.
However, non -profit organizations that can maintain their funding from the United States government are subject to a new condition: their contracts now include a passenger who is committed to compliance Executing order to combat Dei Trump fell in late January. It applies to all the organization’s programs, even if they not all receive American support. Following the matter may be a violation of the matter Wrong claims lawThe Trump administration has warned in the materials it reviewed.
When WIRED continues to cancel, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “every program is subject to a review with the aim of restructuring to comply with the priorities of the administration policy. Programs that serve the interests of our nation will continue. However, programs that are not in line with our national interest will not be.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not answer the follow -up questions about re -granting some grants. The US International Development Agency did not respond to suspension requests. in After x On Monday, Elon Musk stressed that “no one has died as a result of a short stand to do a rational examination of financing foreign aid. No one.” He classified Dogs in the Relief Agency last last month, and he boasted that he spent one weekend.Feeding the American Agency for International Development in the wood cat“