USAID granted $270 million to the East West Management Institute (EWMI), a Soros-affiliated nonprofit. Just $9 million was enough to reshape Albania’s judiciary, allegedly allowing Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama to imprison political opponents. U.S. taxpayers unknowingly funded these efforts for nearly a decade, prompting President Donald Trump to freeze USAID’s $40 billion budget.
USAID’s Role in Judicial Reform
In 2018, Judicial Watch exposed USAID’s involvement in Albania’s judicial reform. The Justice for All campaign, led by EWMI, aimed to reshape the judiciary but instead became a tool of political persecution. Over 15 years, USAID funneled over $250 million into EWMI, including $31.2 million in fiscal year 2024 alone. Before Trump’s freeze, nearly $10 million had already been disbursed.
The Obama administration initially allocated $9 million for the Justice for All project. Republican lawmakers warned that the reform gave Albania’s ruling party excessive judicial control. Despite concerns, USAID defended the initiative. Anne M. Trice, project director, insisted that strong institutions were necessary, despite earning a taxpayer-funded salary of nearly $250,000.
Global Influence of Soros-Linked Initiatives
EWMI, heavily funded by U.S. grants, managed multiple USAID-backed projects. These included a $3.5 million media initiative in Uzbekistan and a $6.4 million anti-corruption program in Kyrgyzstan. Critics argue that such funding risks influencing political systems abroad.
Trump’s freeze on USAID spending sought to prevent further misuse of taxpayer dollars. If $9 million in Albania could undermine democracy, what impact could $31.2 million annually—or $40 billion globally—have?
The controversy surrounding USAID’s funding raises concerns about oversight in foreign aid. Trump’s freeze aimed to prevent further damage to global democratic allies. Without accountability, U.S. taxpayer dollars risk empowering undemocratic regimes worldwide.