An organization that bankrolls various internet security projects has asked a Washington DC court to prevent the Trump administration from cancelling its federal funding – and expressed fears that if the cash stops flowing, the tools it supports could become harder to access.
The Open Technology Fund (OTF) backs projects including the nonprofit certificate authority Let’s Encrypt and the Tor anonymizing network, among other things designed to improve online privacy, promote democracy, and thwart repression around the world. Tor and Let’s Encrypt each have or have had numerous sponsors besides the OTF, from big names in tech to European governments, for what it’s worth.
On March 14, the White House issued an executive order to eliminate the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and a few other such bodies “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
The following day, former TV news anchor Kari Lake, now a Trump-selected special advisor to the USAGM, sent a letter to OTF declaring an end to all grant funding from agency. Lake also issued a statement that described USAGM as “a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer.” Supporters of the agency say it helps counter anti-American propaganda and was part of what was Uncle Sam’s soft power on Earth.
Big fan, bigly, even … Kari Lake shows off a painting of Donald Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2023
Crucially, USAGM manages the Voice of America and Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and dispenses congressionally approved funding to various non-profit organizations, one of which is the OTF.
The OTF’s federal lawsuit [PDF] asks for a temporary restraining order that would prevent the US
