Prescott-area Congressman Eli Crane is leading the charge to try and defund another agency. On Thursday, Crane introduced the “Defund the National Endowment for Democracy Act of 2025,” which would strip taxpayer funding from the private institution.
The National Endowment for Democracy was created in 1983 to promote democracy abroad. But Crane says it now supports global censorship, domestic propaganda, and foreign regime change, which he calls a departure from American values.
A report by the Heritage Foundation stated most of the endowment board’s 28 members opposed President Donald Trump in last year’s election, even though they are supposed to be bipartisan. The report also stated some board members accused Republicans of using violence and that President Trump would take the country down a “fascist route.”
Crane said, “Hardworking citizens should not be forced to foot the bill for anything that undermines freedom of speech and liberty.”