Berliner Tageblatt - 'Anti-American'? US questions UN agencies, international aid groups

A list of 36 questions was sent to small and large organisations alike as part of Washington's ongoing review of its vast foreign aid spending.

"I don't think we have ever received anything like this," said a staff member at a large humanitarian organisation, speaking on condition of anonymity.

While the questionnaire, obtained by AFP, included typical donor queries about things like "cost-effectiveness" strategies, others seemed crafted to determine if grantees conform with the politics of President Donald Trump's administration.

One question asked if organisations had "received ANY funding from (China), Russia, Cuba or Iran", and for confirmation that there are no "DEI elements of the project", referring to diversity, equity and inclusion, Trump's bogeyman.

They were also asked to confirm that "this is not a climate or 'environmental justice' project", and that it takes "appropriate measures to protect women and to defend against gender ideology".

And organisations were asked if they worked "with entities associated with communist, socialist, or totalitarian parties, or any party that espouses anti-American beliefs".

- 'Authoritarian' -

"Authoritarian or anti-American regimes... ironically is a pretty accurate description of the Trump Administration," Phil Lynch, head of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), told AFP.

He said his organisation had "declined to respond" to the questionnaire, adding: "Our grants from the US government have been terminated."

ISHR was among a long line of organisations, ranging from NGOs to UN agencies, the Red Cross and other large international humanitarian actors, that told AFP they had received the questionnaire.

Many voiced shock at the tone of the queries, sent out following Trump's decision immediately upon his return to power in January to freeze virtually all US foreign aid pending the review.

The sudden about-face by the country that traditionally has given most has sent the entire humanitarian community into a tailspin.

"It is fair to send out a questionnaire to people you give money to,... but (this questionnaire) doesn't seem to be adapted to the humanitarian sector," said a high-level official within a large international aid organisation, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"What we find very problematic is that there are a lot of questions around certain political objectives."

Lucica Ditiu, head of STOP TB which also received the questionnaire, stressed that donor country had the prerogative to "look at the way their funding is being used".

She said her organisation, which has traditionally received around half of its funding from the United States, had responded, confirming among other things that no US funds would go to "work related to DEI".

She meanwhile voiced hope that funds from other donors would allow such work to continue.

- 'Unclear' -

Other organisations said they had debated whether or not to respond, as they felt drawn between the threat of losing vital funding and fear they could be construed as sacrificing their principles.

"Whatever the financial implications, ISHR will not resile from its principled commitment to human rights and the rule of law, as well as to values such as diversity, equality and justice," Lynch said.

A large international aid organisation said it had opted to respond but not without reservations.

"If we are seen as a tool for American foreign policy, it will further jeopardise our work," the high-level official there said.

"It can create security risks for our staff, it can create a lack of acceptance in communities... (The) potential negative repercussions are quite far-reaching."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that "a number of UN entities have received questionnaires from the US government", and would "respond in accordance with their respective rules".

A spokesperson with UNAIDS, which has counted on the US for half of its budget, confirmed it had received "several different questionnaires from the United States since the new administration arrived".

"We answer each time."

The deadlines for responding appear to differ.

One large aid organisation said its deadline fell on the same day as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the completion of the US review.

"If the review is already done, it is unclear to us how they will actually use this information," an aid agency official said.

The staff member at another large aid organisation agreed.

"Unclear is the keyword of 2025."

Y.Bouchard--BTB