National Endowment for Democracy suing Trump administration for withholding funding

SOURCE www.npr.org
The National Endowment for Democracy is suing the Trump administration for withholding nearly $240 million in funding approved by Congress, which has led to significant staff furloughs and threatens the organization's existence. The NED supports democracy activists globally and is considered a venture capital fund for democracy.

Key Points

  • NED supports democracy activists and independent press coverage globally
  • Trump administration's funding halt threatens NED's existence
  • The NED was created in 1983 to counter Soviet influence and extend American soft power

Pros

  • Supports democracy activists globally
  • Funds go directly to supporting freedom of speech, thought, and religion
  • Bipartisan support for its mission

Cons

  • Critics view NED as a partisan political weapon
  • Accusations of meddling in internal affairs of other countries