Trump’s administration has asked the researchers and organizations whose work is being carried out abroad to reveal the links with those who are considered hostile, including “entities associated with communist, socialist or totalitarian parties”, according to a questionnaire received by the New York Times.
Electronic research was sent this week to groups working abroad to research diseases such as HIV, gather surveillance data and strengthen public health systems. The recipients received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States International Development Service and other federal sources.
The questionnaire appears to be very similar to the one sent earlier this week to the associates of the United States International Development Service, which has been disassembled by Trump’s administration. Both were entitled “External Aid Review”.
Recipients were instructed to respond within 48 hours. Some candidates asked by the Times feared that weak or unsatisfactory answers could lead to funding cancellation.
“Taxpayers’ dollars should not finance dependence, socialism, corrupt regimes opposed to the free business or interfere with internal issues of another sovereign nation,” the questionnaire said.
“A truly prosperous America gives priority to domestic growth, innovation and economic power over foreign brochures,” he added.
A White House spokesman did not send a request for research comments.
The form asks a series of questions touching the partners, including whether grant recipients work with a drug cartel or “groups that promote mass migration”.
He asks about the impact of programs, such as whether they influence the “promotion of religious freedom and the fight against Christian persecution” to other nations.
It calls on grant recipients if their organizations cooperate or have received funding from Russia, Cuba, Iran or China – including the Commander Institute, which is working with the Chinese Ministry of Education to promote language and cultural exchanges.
Some federal officials overseeing the grants said they were particularly disappointed with a question calling on candidates to reject associations with communist entities. The United States is helping to work in the health sector in many communist countries, including Vietnam.
“Some of my candidates are literally the government’s public health structures in a communist country,” said a federal official who spoke anonymously for fear of punishment. “This is painful.”
Awards and assistance contracts have been re -examined during a 90 -day pause for external assistance, but in some cases they have been canceled and restored in recent weeks. The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the federal government to repeat payments.
Various versions of the questionnaires have been sent from Wednesday and the deadlines appear to range from midnight to Friday to 5 pm Monday. But the process is filled with confusion.
Some candidates appear to have been given extensions, while others have been rejected. Some noted that the deadline appeared to be shifted as the copies of the questionnaire were obtained every day.
The recipients included scientists in large universities and research programs in the United States, as well as tiny organizations abroad. Some questionnaires were obviously sent by mistake. One was received by the Maine Health Department.
A major researcher with two CDC grants for domestic research projects received the email on Thursday night only to receive another Friday morning, telling him to ignore the previous mission.
The answers are intended to be filled by one person at a meeting, with no way to save answers for a break. The form appreciates the job to take 30 minutes, including the time required to collect the necessary data and documents.
“The chaotic way in which they stop orders, finishes, resignations, awards, research – all with rapid deadlines and minimal communication – have been sent are fragmented and incredibly annoying,” said one scientist who spoke.
Some US candidates have turned into lawyers for advice on how to formulate the answers.
Outdoor -based organizations are more disadvantaged. Communications play that Trump’s administration imposed several weeks ago still prevents them from speaking to federal officials who could help, according to a CDC official.
Candidates are only allowed to talk to US officials in the countries where they are based.
“They could lose the vital funds they need to do their job if they do not properly answer these questions,” said a federal official who spoke anonymously for fear of punishment.
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