USAID allocated $270 million to the East West Management Institute (EWMI), a Soros-linked nonprofit. Critics argue that just $9 million was enough to destabilize Albania’s judiciary, allegedly enabling Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama to imprison political opponents. The third chapter of How Biden Aided Soros’s Favorite Narco-State highlights how U.S. taxpayers unknowingly funded leftist projects abroad until President Donald Trump froze USAID spending.
USAID’s Role in Judicial Reform
In 2018, USAID-backed judicial reforms in Albania sparked controversy. The Justice for All campaign, led by EWMI, aimed to reshape the nation’s judiciary. Over 15 years, USAID granted more than $250 million to EWMI, including $31.2 million in fiscal year 2024 alone. From October 2024 until Trump’s freeze, nearly $10 million was disbursed.
The Obama administration initially allocated $9 million to the Justice for All project. Republican lawmakers raised concerns, warning that the reform handed excessive control to Albania’s ruling party. USAID defended the project, claiming it aimed to strengthen democratic institutions. Anne M. Trice, the project’s director, echoed this sentiment, despite earning a taxpayer-funded salary of nearly $250,000 annually.
Global Influence of Soros-Linked Organizations
EWMI, largely funded by U.S. government grants, managed multiple projects under USAID. These included a $3.5 million civil society initiative in Uzbekistan and a $6.4 million anti-corruption effort in Kyrgyzstan. Critics argue that without proper oversight, such projects risk influencing political landscapes abroad.
Trump’s decision to freeze USAID’s $40 billion budget sought to prevent further misuse of taxpayer funds. If $10 million in Albania could destabilize a democratic ally, what impact could $31.2 million annually—or billions globally—have?
The controversy surrounding USAID’s funding raises critical questions about U.S. foreign aid oversight. With millions directed toward politically sensitive initiatives, Trump’s freeze aimed to prevent further harm to democratic institutions worldwide.
