The Donald Trump administration has taken strong action against the controversial United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Senior officials have been placed on leave, contractors dismissed, and, most notably, a broad freeze on foreign assistance has been enforced.
This resulted in an immediate suspension of multiple USAID projects in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and others. The website of the so-called ‘independent government agency’ was also taken offline.
Elon Musk, now in charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has referred to USAID as a ‘criminal organisation,’ tweeting on Sunday (February 2nd), “Time for it to die.”
Donald Trump was unreserved and proclaimed, “(USAID) had been run by a bunch of radical lunatics and we are getting them out.”
The current US President has outlined his intention to place USAID under the authority of the State Department. This move aims to ensure that future foreign assistance aligns with the Trump administration's "America First" objectives.
USAID: Connections to the CIA and Involvement in Regime Change Operations Abroad
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently appointed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services by the Trump administration, shared several insights about USAID during an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson in November 2024.
He revealed that the United States Agency for International Development funded the 2014 Maidan Revolution, which resulted in the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
“There were riots, and it is called the Maidan Rebellion in Ukraine, and we are not told that we are financing those riots. The newspapers never told us, and our government never told us. USAID, which is a CIA front, put 5 billion dollars into funding those riots,” he was heard saying.
“Those riots lead to a coup d’etat against the first elected, democratically elected government of the Ukraine. It was a government that refused to choose sides and to say we were going to be on the side of the West. So we wanted them out,” RFK Jr added.
He highlighted how Victoria Nuland, the former spokesperson for the US State Department, was selecting the cabinet members for the new Ukrainian government.
“USAID doesn’t really do and the CIA doesn’t do democracy. You know, the CIA has overthrown, I think, 83 governments between 1947 and 1997. That’s a third of the governments on Earth and most of them were democracies. It doesn’t do, it doesn’t do democracy,” he had pointed out.
This is clearly demonstrated by the recent actions of USAID in inciting unrest in Bangladesh and masterminding the undemocratic removal of the democratically elected Sheikh Hasina-led government.
In September 2024, The Sunday Guardian published a groundbreaking article exposing how the US government and its agencies had been plotting against the Sheikh Hasina-led government in Bangladesh since March 2019.
The article, based on access to classified documents, revealed that the US government-funded non-profit organization, the International Republican Institute (IRI), is leading the regime change efforts.
“The IRI…was implementing the broader objectives of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The documents also show how the project was necessary to counter-balance India’s “interference”,” the report stated.
The Sunday Guardian highlighted that the International Republican Institute (IRI) is responsible for carrying out projects funded by USAID, including a controversial initiative called PARIS (Promoting Accountability, Inclusivity, and Resiliency Support Program).
PARIS ran from March 2019 to January 2021, during which it aimed to enhance the political participation of Bangladeshis and amplify anti-authoritarian voices.
Throughout the program, the IRI issued 11 advocacy grants, produced 225 "art products" to address social issues, supported three civil society organizations, trained 77 activists, and engaged 326 citizens to develop 43 specific policy demands, which were later presented to 65 Bangladeshi government officials.
A second phase of the PARIS campaign took place from February 2021 to September 2022, backed by a $900,000 grant, with the goal of influencing public opinion against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a related development, the controversial USAID signed an agreement to provide $202 million (~2414 crore Taka) in aid to Bangladesh’s interim government, led by the influential Muhammad Yunus, often described as an "American asset."
On paper, the purpose of this financial assistance is to empower youth, strengthen democracy and governance, and promote development in Bangladesh.
A report published by the Council of Hemispheric Affairs indicates that USAID's involvement contributed to the 2018 uprising in Nicaragua. A significant leaked document further exposed the U.S. government's plans to intervene in Nicaragua’s internal affairs before and after the 2021 presidential election.
The 14-page excerpt from a larger document detailed USAID's agreement to create "the environment for Nicaragua’s transition to democracy." William Grigsby of Radio La Primerisima uncovered the document, which outlined how USAID collaborated with various NGOs, think tanks, media outlets, and human rights organizations to oppose the Ortega administration.
To justify this intervention, the document distorted historical events, falsely claiming that the Sandinista party manipulated the elections, despite the Organization of American States (OAS) acknowledging only minor irregularities. It also presented a skewed version of the 2018 uprising, disregarding the opposition's violent actions and economic disruptions.
The U.S. has a long-standing history of intervention in Nicaragua dating back to 1856, making the revelation of such documents unsurprising. As noted in Ben Waddell's article in Global Americans, “U.S. support has helped play a role in nurturing the current uprisings,” with U.S.-funded groups actively promoting opposition.
Similarly, USAID has been involved in meddling with Venezuela's internal affairs. A 2019 People’s World report revealed USAID's close alignment with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in “Transition Initiatives,” which supported U.S. foreign policy objectives. The organization has also been involved in organizing humanitarian aid convoys to Venezuela, which aligned with the political agenda of the U.S. and interim President Guaidó.
USAID’s efforts in Venezuela emphasize civil society and democratic governance, echoing the principles of the UN Human Rights Convention. Wikileaks exposed a five-point strategy by the U.S. embassy in Caracas to undermine Chávez. USAID and NED extensively funded opposition groups, often blending humanitarian aid with political motives. Additionally, the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources works to reduce Latin American reliance on Venezuelan energy.
USAID, George Soros, and the 'Colour Revolution' in India
In March 2017, the Heritage Foundation released a report outlining how USAID collaborated closely with far-left billionaire George Soros during the Obama administration to advance his "radical agendas" in various countries.
The report stated, “…Evidence is emerging that during the past eight years, Soros, his Open Societies Foundations (OSF), and their many smaller affiliates have received U.S. taxpayer money through USAID and that USAID has made the OSF the main implementer of its aid.“
It is worth remembering that George Soros, who had ties with USAID, was reportedly seeking to instigate a colour revolution in India.
In February 2023, the far-left billionaire took advantage of the Adani-Hindenburg controversy to deliver a harsh critique of the Indian government.
He claimed, “Modi and business tycoon Adani are close allies. Their fate is intertwined…Adani Enterprises tried to raise funds in the stock market, but it failed. Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stock collapsed like a house of cards.”
Soros criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for engaging in crony capitalism. “Modi is silent on the subject, but he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and in parliament,” he added.
The Hungarian-American billionaire also stated that the ‘shakedown’ caused to the Indian markets by the Hindenburg Research report will lead to ‘much-needed institutional reforms’ and a ‘democratic revival.’
George Soros, along with his network of NGOs, activists, and journalists, has long sought to portray PM Modi as an ‘electoral autocrat’ who must be removed for the ‘greater good’ of the nation. This effort has been ongoing for years.
In January 2020, Soros pledged $1 billion to establish a global university aimed at combating nationalism and climate change, which he described as twin challenges threatening the survival of civilization.
While speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros reiterated his commitment to funding a university project to address the decline of civil society in a world increasingly dominated by "would-be and actual dictators" and climate change.
Soros also claimed that the "most significant and alarming setback" was in India, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of establishing a Hindu nationalist state.
The Hungarian-American billionaire is known to have several intellectuals on his payroll, including Amrita Singh, the daughter of former PM Manmohan Singh. Not to mention the notable involvement of 'author' and 'social activist' Harsh Mander, who played a key role in stirring civil unrest during the Anti-CAA protests.
He and his NGO, Karwan-e-Mohabbat, played a significant role in the demonstrations at Shaheen Bagh. “From now on, the decision will not come from the Supreme Court or Parliament. We saw what the Supreme Court did in Ayodhya, NRC and Kashmir matters,” he was heard saying in a viral video.
Harsh Mander had threatened, “The SC has failed to honour secularism, equality and humanity. We will try fighting there too, but, the decision will not happen in the Supreme court nor Parliament, it has to be made in the streets.”
At one point, he even pledged to convert to Islam if the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed. Harsh Mander also called for the arrest of BJP leader Kapil Mishra.
It is important to remember that Shaheen Bagh was orchestrated by Sharjeel Imam, an Islamist who urged Indian Muslims to sever North East India from the rest of the country.
In 2018, the George Soros-funded NGO, Sherpa, attempted to disrupt India’s defense agreement with France and delay the delivery of Rafale fighter jets.
Additionally, Open Society Foundations (OSF), led by the billionaire, had funded the Socio-Legal Information Centre (SLIC), which actively campaigned for the repeal of the sedition law currently used against anti-India elements.
In September 2019, George Soros met with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan shortly after US President Donald Trump attended the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston, Texas.
Soros has been outspoken in his efforts to propagate a dangerous anti-India narrative through the media and civil society. Organizations financed by him played a crucial role in inciting chaos and unrest under the guise of anti-farm law protests.
The Open Society Foundation began its activities in India in 1999 by offering scholarships and fellowships for studies and research at Indian colleges. Through OSF, George Soros made significant contributions to the spread of instability in India.
The Hungarian-American billionaire has also attempted to use international institutions, funded by him, such as Freedom House and the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute, to tarnish India’s global image.
Interestingly, Freedom House is a ‘prime partner’ of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID's Connections with the Congress Party
George Soros, who has collaborated with USAID to advance its objectives, shares a friendly relationship with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, as highlighted by Tharoor's tweet from 2009.
The Congress leader had asserted, “Met old friend George Soros, upbeat abt India and curious about our neighbourhood.”
“He’s far more than an investor: a concerned world citizen,” Shashi Tharoor further added.
OpIndia had previously reported on George Soros and his ties to Fori Gandhi, a close relative of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress and a staunch supporter of Sonia Gandhi, had received funding for his NGO, Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI), from USAID.
In 2023, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with Samantha Power, the former administrator of USAID, during his visit to Uzbekistan.
Additionally, he also met Sunita Vishwanathan from Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), a controversial organization linked to George Soros and the Islamist group Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC).
USAID, OCCRP, and the Targeting of India's Financial Markets
The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), known for its critical reports on India and the Adani Group, has recently come under scrutiny.
A bombshell report by French newspaper Mediapart revealed that OCCRP, which claims to be an independent and non-partisan entity, is funded by USAID. In May 2008, the organization received $1.7 million from the US agency. Drew Sullivan, OCCRP's founder, didn't secure USAID funding by chance; seven years before founding the project, he had visited Sarajevo to train Bosnian journalists as part of a program funded by the US government.
Mediapart highlighted that OCCRP conceals the extent of its funding from USAID and the State Department, hiding it from the public, media partners, and journalists. To maintain the appearance of independence, OCCRP removed the phrase ‘OCCRP is made possible by’ and the USAID logo from its homepage.
Mediapart also pointed out that while it is crucial for organizations to publicly acknowledge financial support from USAID, OCCRP benefits from a ‘partial branding waiver’ that allows it to bypass this standard procedure.
Through its financial backing, the US State Department and USAID wield influence over OCCRP. USAID has the power to veto the appointment of key personnel within the organization and maintains a ‘cooperative agreement’ with it, along with a ‘substantial involvement clause,’ despite OCCRP’s claims of independence.
Mediapart further reported that USAID utilizes OCCRP’s investigative pieces to spark judicial inquiries and sanction actions. Notably, OCCRP is not permitted to investigate the US government and is directed to probe foreign governments that are adversarial to US interests, including Russia, Venezuela, Malta, and Cyprus.
In August 2023, OpIndia had speculated that OCCRP was planning a report similar to the work of the now-defunct US-based short seller Hindenburg Research. Since then, OCCRP has published two major hit pieces—one in August 2023 and another in May 2024—in an attempt to disrupt Indian financial markets.
Connections Between USAID and USCIRF
Though the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and USAID are separate organizations, they have worked together on several occasions.
For example, when Donald Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at promoting international religious freedom within the federal government, USCIRF and USAID joined forces to help implement the order.
The USCIRF has gained a reputation for spreading misleading information about India and its internal matters.
In its 2024 report, USCIRF referenced the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) and called for India to be added to the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs), alongside nations like Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, and Vietnam.
The justification given by USCIRF for this drastic measure was the alleged "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations" of religious freedom by the Indian government.
However, despite the report spanning 96 pages, the commission failed to provide a single example of direct involvement by the Modi government in any religious freedom violations.
OpIndia uncovered that USCIRF devoted two pages (Pages 30 and 31) to painting a distorted picture of India for the international community.
The report expressed concern over India’s efforts to enforce the humanitarian Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against domestic terrorists, the cancellation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licenses for dubious foreign-funded NGOs, and measures to prevent forced conversions and illegal cow slaughter in accordance with constitutional values.
USCIRF proceeded to make broad accusations about the use of anti-conversion laws, anti-cow slaughter legislation, the UAPA, and FCRA cancellations to arbitrarily detain, monitor, and target "religious minorities" and their advocates.
It also supported the Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a think tank whose FCRA license was revoked for violating foreign funding regulations. The Ministry of Home Affairs cited CPR’s reports on “current affairs programs” as one reason for the revocation.
The commission also defended NewsClick, despite reports that it used funds from China to acquire weapons during the anti-CAA protests in the National Capital. Additionally, USCIRF attempted to exonerate activist Teesta Setalvad.
USCIRF voiced concerns over the detention of evangelists involved in deceptive conversions of vulnerable indigenous people (Adivasis) to Christianity and falsely tried to attribute a communal aspect to the Kuki-Meitei ethnic conflict in Manipur.
The USCIRF further sided with Wall Street Journal (WSJ) journalist Sabrina Sidiqqui, known for her anti-India rhetoric, which ultimately exposed the hypocrisy of the White House.
Additionally, the commission expressed support for journalist-turned-terrorist financier Irfan Mehraj and criticized the Supreme Court’s upholding of the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Comments