US bars French groups from Europe grants over 2027 election concerns

The Trump administration is excluding French organizations from a State Department grant program supporting groups whose work aligns with its priorities in Europe, amid concerns that U.S. funding could be viewed as foreign interference in France’s 2027 presidential election. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor program offers grants of $1 million to $3 million for projects involving democratic resilience, rule of law, free speech, press freedom, human rights, national sovereignty, migration, censorship and alleged political lawfare. French officials have objected to any outside intervention in the election, particularly as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally could gain power and pursue tougher deportation rules, limits on birthright citizenship and preferential treatment for French citizens. At least one French applicant said the organization was denied eligibility after seeking funding for anti-censorship and free-speech work. U.S. officials reportedly also feared that funded activities could conflict with proposed French legislation targeting online disinformation and foreign interference, while Washington sought to avoid damaging important economic ties with France.