The State Department is offering up to $500,000 for programs in Britain promoting shared American and British legal traditions, an initiative that has drawn accusations that the Trump administration is attempting to influence political debate in the country, The Guardian reports.
The U.S. Mission to the United Kingdom posted the grant opportunity July 20 under the title “Liberty Under Law: The Shared Anglo-American Tradition.” The government expects to make up to three awards, with grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Applications are due Aug. 21.
According to the federal notice, the money will support public education and civic engagement programs intended to deepen understanding of the Anglo-American common law tradition and strengthen the transatlantic relationship.
The program also is tied to the 70th anniversary in 2027 of the American Bar Association’s unveiling of the Magna Carta Memorial in Runnymede, England.
The State Department says it will prioritize projects connecting principles including freedom of speech, due process, trial by jury, limited government, property rights, taxation by consent, and the rule of law to contemporary civic life.
The initiative, however, has drawn criticism from some British officials who contend Washington is injecting itself into the country’s domestic political debate.
Liberal Democrat lawmaker Lisa Smart accused the Trump administration of “meddling in our democracy,” according to The Guardian, which first reported on the criticism Saturday.
Smart said Britain has its own traditions of liberty and free expression and does not need funding tied to the Trump administration to promote them.
The grant notice says the funding may not be used for partisan political activity or lobbying.
The U.S. Embassy rejected the suggestion that the initiative constitutes political interference. An embassy spokesperson told The Guardian that the program is intended to strengthen U.S.-British relations and increase understanding of constitutional principles and democratic norms shared by the two countries.
The newspaper also reported concerns among current and former State Department officials about the political emphasis of U.S. public diplomacy efforts in Britain. One official described funding programs focused on an “America First” worldview as a departure from more traditional efforts to explain U.S. policy abroad.
The controversy comes amid broader disputes between the Trump administration and European governments over free speech, immigration, and other domestic policies.
Eligible applicants for the grant include U.S. nonprofits and universities, as well as British charities, educational institutions, and nonprofits that partner with a U.S. organization.
