Hungary questions US grants to NGOs, investigates political influence through USAID

The Hungarian government is investigating the role of the United States in influencing its internal affairs through the programs of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Gergely Gulyás, head of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, described the USAID case as “the biggest corruption scandal in the Western world” during a meeting with journalists, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Gulyás explained that USAID funds were used to purchase media outlets, journalists, political activists, and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) capable of influencing public opinion. “The [U.S. agency's] money was used to buy media, journalists, political activists, and so-called non-governmental organizations capable of influencing public opinion,” he stated.

Gulyás further revealed that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has tasked András László, a member of the European Parliament from the ruling Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Union party, to lead a team investigating USAID's activities in Hungary.

László is expected to liaise with U.S. authorities, investigate the details of U.S. programs, and compile a comprehensive report. The Hungarian government wants to understand “what funds flowed to Hungary under USAID programs, what impact the past U.S. democratic administration had on public opinion in the country, and what purposes and intentions were behind the allocation of U.S. grants” to Hungarian organizations,  Gulyás added.

Gulyás emphasized that Hungary aims to end foreign influence on its domestic affairs through financial means. “It is necessary to put an end once and for all to the possibility of influencing Hungarian public life with money,” he declared. He further pointed out that if such interference is banned from Russia, it should also be prohibited from the United States. In this context, Gulyás announced that Fidesz would introduce amendments to existing laws in parliament to strengthen protections against foreign interference in Hungary's domestic politics.

Hungary has already implemented some measures to protect against foreign influence. Since December 2023, a law has been in place criminalizing foreign funding of political parties, with penalties of up to three years in prison. The Office for the Protection of National Sovereignty is responsible for ensuring compliance with this law and gathering information on potential violators.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán previously remarked that U.S. foreign aid, which President Donald Trump had decided to disclose, was used to overthrow unwanted governments in other countries, including Hungary. Orbán expressed support for the new U.S. administration's decision to suspend USAID operations, which funded such programs.

By Tamilla Hasanova