The impacts of ending US foreign aid for democracy, human rights and governance: Where do we go from here?
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Since the early 2025 termination of most U.S. governmental support for foreign aid, news reports, academic studies, and court cases have begun to detail the damage this decision has caused, particularly in the area of humanitarian assistance and public health. The ending of almost all democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) assistance has generated less attention, but it is particularly worrisome given the current prolonged period of global democratic backsliding.
Jon Temin will start the session with an overview of the cuts to DRG, and then Daniel Sabet will present the results of his research on the impact of terminating US international support for independent media. The presentation will draw on a survey of media outlets, qualitative case studies, and media scraping data to explore what the cuts have meant to independent media and how outlets are coping. The session will then pivot to a discussion about where we go from here. After exploring different approaches to answering this question, Jon and Daniel will lead a discussion on the topic.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University is an academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy through research, teaching, and practice. Our events create space for open dialogue and exchange among people with diverse perspectives. By convening scholars, practitioners, and the public, we seek to foster understanding, encourage inquiry, and support the conditions in which democracy can thrive.
