USAID Funded Censorship, Smears of Americans

"USAID supports freedom fighters everywhere in this world," declared Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, at a rally yesterday outside the front gate of the United States Agency for International Development, the foreign assistance agency now targeted for sweeping cuts.

The reality, however, is murky. The sprawling agency has financed groups that have engaged in smear campaigns and efforts to silence prominent American dissident voices.

USAID has funded the Zinc Network, an anti-disinformation group that has targeted reporter Max Blumenthal, politician Vivek Ramaswamy, and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.

USAID also funded a pesticide industry public relations effort known as v-Fluence, which dug up dirt about American food journalists Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman.