The Trump administration is rolling out what looks like a loyalty test for charities, nonprofits, and U.N. agencies receiving U.S. funding. Among the 23-question probe: Have you ever worked with groups linked to communism, socialism, or anti-American beliefs?
“It’s multilateral McCarthyism,” one senior diplomat tells my colleague Colum Lynch, likening it to Cold War-era communist witch hunts. The questionnaire digs into hot-button issues such as abortion, free speech, patriotism, and migration — even demanding to know if organizations vet employees for terrorist ties and uphold President Donald Trump’s “America First” values.
One U.N. agency was given a single day to sign and return it but refused. The demand clashes with U.N. principles of neutrality and creates a minefield for aid groups working in conflict zones where cooperation with controversial entities is often necessary for survival.
Not all the questions are political — some focus on risk management and aid sustainability — but the overall message is clear: Fall in line, or lose U.S. funding.