Nonprofit organizations that monitor the imprisonment of Chinese political dissidents and advocate for minority groups, such as the Uyghurs and Tibetans, are facing uncertainty due to a funding suspension from the National Endowment for Democracy (N.E.D.). This American nonprofit, largely funded by the U.S. government, has been a crucial supporter of these groups, especially as state censorship and repression in China escalate.
Sources indicate that several China-focused nonprofits were informed last week that their funding from the N.E.D. would be suspended indefinitely. This decision follows members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency gaining access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, halting the funds that were typically distributed to the endowment.
The cessation of N.E.D. funding is expected to have a particularly severe impact on organizations engaged in advocacy related to China, where civil liberties have come under increased threat under President Xi Jinping's administration. Since taking power in 2012, Xi's regime has harassed, detained, and jailed numerous activists and intellectuals, particularly in regions like Xinjiang, where hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have reportedly been imprisoned.
The exact number of organizations affected by the funding cuts remains unclear, as both the Treasury Department and the N.E.D. have not responded to inquiries about the situation. The N.E.D., created by Congress in the 1980s to promote democracy, has long been criticized by Beijing, which accuses it of instigating protests and collaborating with anti-China forces.
Among the groups affected is China Digital Times, which monitors Chinese internet censorship. Its founder reported that funding suspension has severely disrupted operations, leading to pay cuts and reduced work hours for staff. The representative of the World Uyghur Congress noted that the timing of the cuts complicates their advocacy amid growing global crises that overshadow the plight of Uyghurs.
Activists had previously held hope for continued U.S. support due to appointments in the Trump administration that appeared favorable to China-related issues. However, they expressed shock at the sudden funding cuts. One longtime N.E.D. grantee stated that this was the first instance in 23 years where their funding would be halted.
Chinese nationalists have welcomed the U.S. actions to cut funding, viewing it as a concession against what they perceive as foreign interference in Chinese affairs. Experts in China have commented that the reduction of U.S. foreign aid signals a withdrawal from global engagement, with some suggesting that the endowment’s efforts were detrimental to other nations.