Washington/The Hague (Reuters) – The White House advised ending U.S. funding for around twenty programs dedicated to war crimes and accountability work globally, including in Myanmar, Syria, and alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine. This recommendation, revealed by two U.S. sources and internal government documents reviewed by Reuters, is not a final decision but allows the State Department to appeal. The Office of Management and Budget’s suggestion could lead to discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team, who will provide feedback on which programs they believe should continue. These programs cover various countries like Iraq, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Gambia.
The expectation is that Rubio may not advocate for many programs to continue, according to U.S. officials. However, he may argue for key programs, such as supporting potential war crimes prosecutions in Ukraine. Among the programs potentially facing termination are those focused on war crimes accountability in Ukraine, such as Global Rights Compliance and the Legal Action Network, which gather evidence and support legal actions against Russian suspects of war crimes in Ukraine.
State Department bureaus interested in retaining war crimes and accountability programs must submit their justifications by July 11, as per an internal email seen by Reuters. The Trump administration’s focus on “America First” policies has led to significant cuts in foreign aid, affecting programs like the U.S. Agency for International Development and humanitarian relief efforts. The OMB’s recommendation reflects a shift away from prioritizing human rights advocacy and rule of law globally, a departure from past U.S. administrations’ approaches.
The proposed termination of certain programs raises concerns about the U.S. withdrawing from efforts to hold Russia accountable for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. For instance, a $18 million State Department grant for Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, managed by Georgetown University’s International Criminal Justice Initiative, is among those at risk. While these programs may not directly impact Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, they play a crucial role in documenting reported battlefield atrocities in one of Europe’s most significant conflicts since World War Two.
As Ukraine nears its fourth year since the invasion by Moscow in February 2022, over 140,000 war crime cases have been opened, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and widespread devastation. Despite evidence to the contrary, Russia denies any involvement in war crimes during the conflict.
A separate initiative focuses on holding the Myanmar army accountable for atrocities committed against Rohingya minorities, as well as addressing the persecution of Christians and other minority groups by Syria’s former president, Bashar al-Assad. The recommendations from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may encounter resistance from the State Department, but the appeal process is strictly defined.
An internal State Department email underscored the importance of aligning any efforts to maintain programs marked for termination with the administration’s priorities. Bureaus are instructed to clearly and concisely demonstrate how these programs directly support Washington’s objectives.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Anthony Deutsch; Additional reporting by Gram Slattery and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Nia Williams)
