White House stops funding White Helmets

(MENAFN) The Trump administration has significantly reduced funding for the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue organization operating in Syria, CNN reported, citing internal documents and the group itself. The White Helmets, formally known as the Syrian Civil Defense, were established in 2014 during Syria's civil war to aid civilians injured by the government of former President Bashar Assad. The group received financial support from Western governments and was widely celebrated in the media.

However, their operations have faced increasing scrutiny, with evidence suggesting that some of their media content was staged and that members were involved in executions carried out by jihadist groups. As part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to cut foreign aid, USAID has terminated funding for programs related to firefighting, search and rescue, and community resilience, which had previously supported the White Helmets. Despite this, a smaller contract for “accountability work” remains with the US State Department.

A USAID official informed Congress that over 5,300 aid awards had been cut, including a nearly $30 million contract for the White Helmets that began in February 2023. Some funds from this contract had already been spent. The US government had frozen billions in foreign aid upon Trump’s assumption of office, reviewing grants to ensure they aligned with his "America First" policy.

Farouq Habib, the White Helmets’ deputy general manager, told CNN that the group has had a long-standing and valuable partnership with USAID, which had been the organization’s primary sponsor for nearly ten years. The White Helmets became internationally known amid the Syrian conflict, operating primarily in regions controlled by anti-Assad jihadist groups. The group has been accused of staging chemical attacks, which were used by Western countries to justify military strikes against Assad's forces.

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