The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) categorically rejects claims that it has supported censorship of Americans or targeted U.S. media outlets. NED’s mandate, set by Congress, is to support democratic freedoms outside the United States, and NED does not fund U.S.-focused programs of any kind.
In response to emerging global threats to democracy, including efforts by authoritarian governments to manipulate and weaponize the information environment beyond their borders, NED provided limited funding to the UK-based Global Disinformation Index (GDI) for research examining vulnerabilities in foreign media environments, including China’s efforts to distort the information space. NED never funded GDI’s work related to the United States, nor did NED support any activities aimed at U.S. audiences or media. NED has never supported efforts to suppress or defund U.S. media outlets—conservative or otherwise.
When NED leadership became aware in early 2023 that GDI had undertaken U.S.-related work for another donor that was inconsistent with NED’s mandate, NED acted immediately. NED placed the grant on hold, conducted a review, and within one week terminated the grant, recovered unspent funds, and informed Congress (through its oversight Committees and Board) of its actions. Following these steps, NED revised its due diligence and oversight procedures to include enhanced vetting processes with clearer protocols related to non-NED funded programming of grantees; a sharpened strategy on challenging authoritarian censorship and protecting free speech; and a review of relevant grantmaking to ensure compliance with our standards and mandate.
NED takes seriously its stewardship of U.S. taxpayer funds and operates with a high degree of transparency and accountability. As required by law, NED submits annual plans and reports to Congress and the executive branch, including the Department of State and the White House. NED engages regularly with congressional oversight committees and responds to congressional inquiries, and regularly undergoes independent audits and review by the Government Accountability Office and the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General. Learn more about NED’s governance and accountability and clean FY2025 audit.
To be unequivocally clear, NED neither supports censorship nor funds projects targeting the U.S. NED strictly adheres to its mandate, per the NED Act, to encourage and support freedom and democracy programs abroad.
Learn more about NED’s work on free speech:
- Impact Report: Protecting Free Speech and Countering Authoritarianism
- Halt Communist Censorship Before It Reaches U.S. Shores: Newsmax op-ed by NED Board Chairman and former Congressman Peter Roskam
- When Free Speech Falls, So Does Freedom: Miami Herald op-ed by NED President and CEO Damon Wilson and former Senator and current NED Board Member Mel Martinez
