By: Maida Salkanović
Across Southeast Europe, the sudden shutdown of USAID funding was not met with concern by many governments, but rather welcomed as a convenient political opportunity. While the bulk of US assistance had long supported state institutions, officials used the funding freeze as a pretext to attack civil society, discredit NGOs, and advance restrictive laws under the guise of national sovereignty.
The shutdown of USAID had a global impact on civil society, resulting in the loss of over 100,000 jobs. While exact figures for Southeast Europe are unavailable, the effects have been deeply felt. In recent months, numerous journalists have lost their jobs and projects, and many media organizations and civil society initiatives now face an uncertain future.
Although the majority of USAID assistance in the region was directed toward governments and state institutions, with the nonprofit sector receiving far less, the reactions of local authorities to its shutdown are telling. Their open delight at the end of USAID funding, despite the paradox that it largely benefited their own institutions, exposes their authoritarian tendencies and deep-seated aversion to civil society.
In the wake of these developments, several governments doubled down, framing foreign funding as a threat and using it to legitimize “foreign agent” laws and suppress civil society actors.
Raids and Disinformation in Serbia
Trump and his administration have spread disinformation that justify the shutdown, including false claims that USAID “bought condoms for Hamas” or “financed a trans opera in Colombia.” Although these narratives were debunked, they served to stoke public outrage, paving the way for deep funding cuts that have left a mark across the world.
In the region, beyond the loss of funding, organizations affected by these cuts also faced an intense negative campaign led by repressive forces within society, who view the civil sector — often supported by international donors — as adversaries and promoters of liberal agendas. The disinformation campaign against USAID originated directly from Trump and his officials and was quickly echoed by local conservative political structures. In Serbia, civil society organizations came under particularly fierce attack, with some even subjected to police raids. Among them was CRTA, the organization behind the fact-checking website Istinomer.
During a press conference, Serbia’s chief public prosecutor Nenad Stefanović cited statements from “U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, DOGE chief Elon Musk, and FBI Director Kash Patel” as the basis for “serious suspicions” of irregularities and money laundering involving USAID funds.
Stefanović’s press conference was rife with incorrect claims — including a false statement that the raid had been coordinated with the US government, a claim later debunked by Raskrikavanje. Poynter issued a statement condemning the raid, noting that it followed “weeks of aggravated harassment by tabloid press and conspiracy accounts accusing CRTA of plotting to overthrow President Aleksandar Vučić.”
“The pro-regime media in Serbia seized upon the shutdown of USAID as proof that NGOs are working against Serbia and that USAID is a bad actor, simply because Trump said so,” Vesna Radojević, editor of Raskrikavanje, told SEE Check.
Disinformation about USAID in Serbia is not only being spread by pro-government tabloids, but also by officials themselves, warns Radojević.
President Vučić himself joined the negative campaign, labeling USAID “a criminal organization” — conveniently ignoring the fact that in Serbia the government was the largest recipient of USAID assistance.
“I am concerned by the lack of response from American institutions or embassies, because they are being directly accused of interfering in the sovereignty of countries and of attempting to overthrow governments. I find that completely unbelievable,” Radojević told SEE Check.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: New Excuses for Repression
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, repressive actors also capitalized on the anti-USAID narrative. Disinformation campaigns included claims that Martin De Luca, a lawyer falsely claimed to be part of Trump’s team, had arrived to investigate the alleged disappearance of $250 million in USAID funds — a story promoted by public broadcasters in Bosnian entity Republika Srpska. Civil society organizations and independent media were branded in pro-government outlets as “CIA outposts” allegedly funded by USAID.
Dževad Galijašević, a self-proclaimed “security expert” aligned with the ruling Serbian nationalist SNSD party accused USAID of financing groups in BiH linked to Middle Eastern terrorist organizations.
“The campaign against USAID was also used to justify the so-called ‘foreign agents’ law in Republika Srpska,” Rašid Krupalija, editor of Raskrinkavanje in Bosnia, told SEE Check. “The accusations were used to argue that civil society organizations and independent media are foreign mercenaries, and that alleged corruption within USAID is proof they must be more tightly controlled.”
The Media Sector: Struggling for Survival
The effects on independent journalism were particularly severe. In a statement to SEE Check, Sarajevo’s Mediacentar said:
“The halting of USAID funding had a major impact on media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting how critical donor support is, especially for independent outlets, given that public funding often comes with political influence.”
Mediacentar stressed the urgent need for stable, transparent funding sources for media, independent of political pressures.
Croatia: Weaponizing the Cuts to Attack Human Rights
In Croatia, conservative factions seized on the USAID situation to question projects supporting human rights, particularly LGBTIQ and women’s rights initiatives. Some media outlets openly listed projects they would like to see slashed, celebrating the dismantling of USAID as validation of their own agendas. These projects focused almost entirely on supporting LGBTIQ rights and women’s rights.
Faktograf debunked several USAID-related disinformation claims circulating in Croatia.
“The dismantling of USAID and the American administration’s treatment of the media and civil society represent an almost tectonic shift in approach,” said Ana Brakus, director of Faktograf. “Naturally, the shockwaves were felt here as well, with the loudest voices coming from those who had previously promoted similar unfounded claims.”
A Region Facing New Challenges
Trump’s cuts to foreign aid, and the disinformation campaigns that accompanied them, have left Southeast Europe’s independent media and civil society shaken — facing funding crises, public hostility, and emboldened repressive currents.
While most organizations are working to adapt by seeking alternative sources of funding, the loss of USAID support has created a vacuum that is difficult to fill, particularly for independent media and watchdog organizations. In environments where political pressures are already high, the weakening of donor-backed initiatives risks further shrinking the space for free expression, democratic participation, and civic engagement.
The developments in Southeast Europe serve as a warning of how foreign policy shifts, disinformation, and local authoritarian tendencies can intersect — with lasting consequences for fragile democratic institutions.
