The U.S. has long used the promotion of democracy overseas as a crucial form of “soft power,” not only to gain ideological influence in global geopolitics, but also to foster the emergence of political systems overseas that are compatible with American security and economic interests. President Trump’s proposed 2026 budget, however, contains more than $10 billion in cuts to funds and organizations that promote democracy abroad by, for example, monitoring elections, strengthening democratic political parties, and supporting civil society groups.

The most widely-publicized casualty is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the largest single U.S. organization promoting democracy overseas, which the administration wants to merge into the State Department with 83% o

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