New Report Suggests State Department Needs Formal Plans to Counter Democratic Backsliding Overseas

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that the Department of State develop and implement formal plans to mitigate the adverse effects of anti-democratic actions in countries receiving U.S. democracy assistance. The GAO’s findings, based on an assessment of democracy assistance programs, highlight that when such actions occur, U.S. agencies have been forced to redirect funding, leading to confusion and a loss of program momentum.

Between fiscal years 2018 and 2023, the U.S. allocated approximately $14 billion in democracy assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State. During this period, the GAO noted a global trend toward authoritarianism, which has impacted the effectiveness of these programs. In four countries studied by the GAO—El Salvador, Georgia, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia—implementing organizations and agency officials reported significant challenges. These challenges included government harassment of civil society and media, weak governmental capacity in host countries, and competing priorities from both U.S. and international donors.

The GAO’s review found that USAID and the State Department had not established proactive strategies to address the risk of democracy assistance programs being disrupted by host-country governments. When anti-democratic actions were reported between fiscal years 2021 and 2024, both agencies paused or ceased assistance that involved collaboration with government entities, shifting their focus to non-governmental partners. Agency officials indicated that this redirection led to a loss of programmatic momentum and uncertainty regarding program continuation. The GAO’s examination of 12 awards revealed a lack of specific plans from USAID and State to manage these risks.

Recent events, including a January 2025 executive order that paused all U.S. foreign development assistance, and subsequent departmental reorganizations in April 2025 leading to USAID ceasing foreign assistance implementation in July 2025, underscore the need for agile and well-planned approaches. The GAO suggests that establishing a requirement for risk mitigation plans would enable the State Department to pivot assistance more efficiently when necessary.

The GAO’s recommendations call for the Secretary of State to ensure that entities responsible for democracy assistance programs mandate that implementing partners develop plans to address the risks associated with shifting, pausing, or ceasing award activities involving host-country government entities. These plans should be adjusted as needed throughout the award’s lifecycle. Additionally, the GAO recommends that award managers be required to review these risk mitigation plans during the design phase of awards and monitor adherence to them throughout implementation. The Department of State has not yet agreed or disagreed with these recommendations.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Government Accountability Office

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