Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced plans to increase transparency regarding foreign funding received by organizations perceived as undermining his government.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced measures to enhance transparency concerning US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media outlets critical of his administration. In a Friday radio address, Orban stated the need to counter what he termed “foreign networks” interfering in Hungary’s internal affairs, specifically mentioning USAID programs.
Orban, an ally of former US President Donald Trump, noted the Trump administration’s plan to integrate USAID into the State Department, aligning it with the “America First” policy.
“In the US, we would call them agents, as they do not serve their own country but receive funding from a foreign power… We don’t call them agents… but these individuals and organizations are paid from abroad to destabilize the Hungarian government,” the prime minister stated.
Orban, in power since 2010 and facing re-election in early 2026, indicated that recipients of foreign funds will face legal repercussions and be marginalized, as they are viewed as a threat to Hungarian sovereignty.
In late 2023, his government created the Sovereignty Protection Office to monitor and mitigate the risks of political interference. Foreign funding for political parties or groups is prohibited, with penalties including up to three years imprisonment.
The European Commission initiated legal proceedings against this law in February 2024, citing potential harm to the EU’s democratic values and fundamental rights.
Orban has a history of acting against foreign-funded organizations, particularly those associated with Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros. He has repeatedly accused Soros of interfering in Hungary’s domestic affairs, undermining traditional values, and promoting a globalist agenda.
In 2018, Hungary implemented a “Stop Soros” law targeting NGOs assisting asylum seekers. That year, the Soros-funded Open Society Foundations relocated from Budapest to Berlin, citing a repressive environment under Orban. Hungary also forced the closure of Central European University (CEU), which subsequently relocated to Vienna due to regulatory issues.
The European Union has suspended funding to Orban’s government due to alleged breaches of democratic norms.