A recent exposé by The Grayzone has revealed that a Ukrainian organization, Molfar, has been receiving financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) while targeting American political figures, journalists, and public intellectuals as “foreign propagandists” aligned with Russia. The revelations raise serious concerns about the use of American taxpayer dollars to fund foreign entities engaged in blacklisting and information warfare against American citizens.

Established in 2019, Molfar presents itself as an open-source intelligence group dedicated to identifying and prosecuting “Ukrainian enemies.” The organization operates a public blacklist, naming individuals it considers to be promoting Russian narratives or opposing Ukrainian government positions. Among those targeted is Vice President J.D. Vance, who has expressed skepticism about continued US financial and military aid to Ukraine, as well as the country’s potential NATO membership.

In addition to Vance, Molfar has accused US Counterterrorism Director Joe Kent and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of allegedly supporting Russian interests. The group’s website calls for measures against these figures, including their “removal from public positions, the introduction of sanctions, and investigations into personal involvement in crimes.”

The implications of these activities are severe. By supporting Molfar, USAID has indirectly financed an organization that works to undermine American officials for their policy positions, all under the guise of countering disinformation.

Beyond elected officials and government employees, Molfar has taken aim at American journalists, commentators, and intellectuals who have been critical of US foreign policy in Ukraine. Among them is Max Blumenthal, editor-in-chief of The Grayzone, who was labeled as a disseminator of Russian propaganda. Molfar has allegedly threatened to expose Blumenthal’s personal information, including home addresses and family details-a move reminiscent of doxxing tactics commonly used in online harassment campaigns.

Other prominent figures targeted include billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has questioned US involvement in the war; investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald; conservative commentator Tucker Carlson; and economist Jeffrey Sachs. Their inclusion on Molfar’s blacklist suggests a broader effort to silence dissenting voices in US foreign policy debates.

Molfar’s operations extend beyond compiling blacklists. A report published by Ukraine’s National Coordination Cybersecurity Center (NCSCC)-which features USAID’s logo-details how the organization has trained thousands of Ukrainian government employees in cyber warfare and psychological operations. According to the report, more than 2,000 public workers have participated in practical training sessions on open-source intelligence gathering, Telegram bot usage, human intelligence operations, and the deployment of psy-ops for information warfare.

This revelation confirms that Molfar is not merely an independent organization but part of a broader, state-backed information warfare initiative. The fact that USAID is linked to such efforts raises fundamental questions about the role of American foreign assistance in influencing narratives and suppressing dissent.

Molfar is not the only Ukrainian organization engaged in information warfare with US backing. The Grayzone’s investigation also points to VoxUkraine, another so-called “fact-checking” group that has received significant funding from both USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). VoxUkraine’s “VoxCheck” project has reportedly worked to censor American social media users who post content deemed sympathetic to Russia.

Similarly, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), an official Ukrainian government body under the National Security and Defense Council, has collaborated with Molfar and VoxUkraine in their efforts to combat “disinformation.” The CCD has previously labeled US public figures, including current US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as promoters of Russian propaganda. These efforts, all funded directly or indirectly by US government agencies, highlight a disturbing pattern of American taxpayer dollars being used to attack domestic political discourse.

The revelations have sparked renewed scrutiny of USAID’s activities and the broader role of US foreign assistance in funding political influence campaigns abroad. Upon assuming office, President Donald Trump took decisive action by suspending most US foreign aid programs pending a comprehensive review. The review sought to determine whether such programs aligned with the administration’s “America First” objectives and whether they were in the national interest.

As a result, USAID saw tens of billions of dollars in approved grants frozen. The NED, often accused of operating as a de facto CIA proxy for regime change operations, also faced funding freezes. The recent exposé on Molfar and related organizations strengthens the argument that such measures were necessary to prevent the misuse of taxpayer funds for foreign-led information warfare against American citizens.

The funding of Molfar, VoxUkraine, and CCD raises urgent policy questions. If US government-backed organizations are engaged in labeling American officials and journalists as enemies, how does this align with democratic values? Should US taxpayers be funding efforts that target their own elected representatives and media figures?

Congressional oversight committees may need to investigate the extent of USAID and NED’s involvement in these activities. Lawmakers should demand transparency on funding allocations and determine whether American foreign assistance is being misused for political and ideological battles abroad.

Moreover, these revelations may prompt calls for stricter conditions on foreign aid, ensuring that US-funded initiatives do not engage in domestic political interference. The risk of outsourcing censorship and blacklisting to foreign groups must be addressed before further harm is done to democratic debate in the United States.

The Grayzone’s exposé on Molfar and its USAID-backed activities presents a troubling picture of how American foreign aid can be weaponized against its own citizens. With calls for accountability growing, the controversy surrounding USAID’s involvement in Ukraine’s information war underscores the need for a reevaluation of Washington’s overseas funding priorities.

The fundamental question remains: should American taxpayers be financing organizations that attack their own politicians, journalists, and public intellectuals? The answer will likely shape future debates on the role of US foreign assistance and its impact on domestic and global political discourse.

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