Scare Stories

Comments from Rubio have not alleviated the anxiety felt by independent media and various NGOs in Central Europe that depend on US funding through channels like USAID or the State Department, as well as from UN agencies and US international NGOs distributing funds to smaller affiliates.

Jeremy Drucker, founder and editor-in-chief of Transitions based in Prague, confirmed that, “The freezing of US funds will also influence media in Central and Eastern Europe.”

The move by the US embassy in Hungary, for example, impacts 26 media and civil society organizations that could have received grants ranging from 3 to 10 million forints (approximately 7,000-25,000 euros) if the State Department’s program had continued.

“Larger media outlets may persist, but smaller ones, particularly in rural areas, could face significant challenges,” Agnes Urban from Mertek Media Monitor, an NGO focused on media, told BIRN.

Urban believes the day-to-day operations of most media outlets in Hungary are not immediately endangered; typically, grants don’t cover operational expenses but fund technical advancements and the creation of formats like podcasts or YouTube channels. “The suspension means that investment funding, which might be crucial for the future, will be unavailable,” she states.

However, she foresees a tough period ahead, especially following Meta’s announcement to eliminate funding for fact-checking sites and media literacy programs. “Many media organizations that have strived for diversity could see a significant loss of funding from the US within days. Yet, those that have built a robust community and can rely on their audience will endure,” she added.

Zsombor Gyorgy, editor-in-chief of the independent weekly Magyar Hang, which lost a 15 million forint State Department grant—less than 5 percent of its budget—agreed. “We intended to invest in a studio to enhance our video production and purchase our own cameras, but will likely need to delay this initiative,” Gyorgy mentioned to BIRN. “Our fundamental operations, however, will remain unaffected.”

Jitka Adamcikova, chair of the Women in Media association in Czechia, whose journalist education program for women was adversely affected by the loss of US embassy funding, reflected on the sector’s disbelief regarding the abrupt announcement. “I was not anticipating that such a controversial action would lead to the termination of support just four days after the new American president took office,” Adamcikova commented.

Olga Gitkiewicz, a journalist representing the reputable Reportage Institute (Instytut Reportażu) in Warsaw, explained to BIRN that Trump’s decision adversely affects two of its programs, particularly one that relied on US funds to support local newsrooms throughout the country.

“Local media play a vital role in addressing numerous social issues, especially at the grassroots level, by reporting on local irregularities and educating the public,” Gitkiewicz noted, emphasizing the significance of the program her institute is now compelled to discontinue, resulting in a lack of funding for four local newsrooms.

“Local media face numerous upcoming challenges, including financial issues, staff shortages (young journalists often leave small towns for larger editorial offices), technological hurdles, and the requirement to adapt to digital changes brought by major players in the media landscape,” Gitkiewicz added.

So apparently USAID financed ultra-progressive Politico in Brussels and basically the entire left-wing media in Hungary under the previous US administration. And they called me “disruptor of the year”…

I think the world owes a debt of gratitude to President @realDonaldTrump for…

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) February 5, 2025

Unavoidably, some individuals in the region have welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for independent media initiatives. In a bleak twist of fate, while USAID has historically been seen and criticized by the left as a tool of American imperialism and a well-documented façade for intelligence operations, it is now Republicans and the populist right celebrating its reduction.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a nationalist-populist, praised the defunding of what he and his supporters call the “dollar media” in a post on X, stating: “So apparently USAID financed ultra-progressive Politico in Brussels and basically the entire left-wing media in Hungary under the previous US administration. And they called me ‘disruptor of the year’… I think the world owes a debt of gratitude to President @realDonaldTrump for revealing and putting an end to this dark conspiracy.”

Upon the left-leaning Polish portal Krytyka Polityczna revealing the impact of the USAID cuts on its operations, the right-wing account @PoleConnection on X was quick to highlight the irony of “leftist” media being supported by the US government. Elon Musk even responded to that tweet from his own account, stating simply in Polish “czesc” (“hello”).

Nonetheless, Krytyka Polityczna found support from an unexpected ally. Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska, owner of logistics firm InPost, ended up offering to finance the portal, ironically describing its work as addressing “the noble task of combating bloodthirsty capitalism,” despite Krytyka having previously published critical articles about his business.

“But seriously, I will gladly help if necessary and in return, I expect – as before – unwavering criticism, because you are completely wrong, but pluralism in the media is extremely important,” Brzoska tweeted at Krytyka Polityczna.