President Ronald Reagan laid the rhetorical foundations for the National Endowment for Democracy in a speech during a state visit to London in June 1982. The NED is now suing the Trump administration for denying access to nearly $240 million in funding, leading to a cash flow crisis and staff furloughs. Bipartisan support for the NED dates back to its establishment in 1983 to promote democracy and counter Soviet influence. The Trump administration’s withholding of funds has drawn criticism, with some calling the NED a partisan political weapon.
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