2 Groups Accuse Americans of Being Enemies of Ukraine. A House Republican Wants State to Stop Working With Them.

Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., is urging Congress to prevent the State Department from working with foreign organizations that “encourage the harassment of Americans” after a Ukraine-based outlet listed U.S. organizations and individuals it accused of impeding assistance to Ukraine. 

The Heritage Foundation, which founded The Daily Signal in 2014, appears among the organizations on the list, and so does its president, Kevin D. Roberts. 

The Ukraine-based media outlet the DATA Journalism Agency, also known as TEXTY, published a report titled “Roller Coaster: From Trumpists to Communists.” The report lists forces in the U.S. impeding aid to Ukraine and how they do it. The list includes 77 organizations and 388 individuals, including former President Donald Trump and 116 Republican House members.

Two State Department agencies partnered with the DATA Journalism Agency, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. 

“According to the report, the individuals on the list ‘oppose supporting Ukraine,’ and many ‘echo key messages of Russian propaganda aimed at depriving Ukrainians of the ability to defend themselves,’” Banks said in a letter Tuesday. He sent the letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., and Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Chair Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.

Banks added that another Ukrainian organization partnering with the State Department, known as Myrotvorets, also maintained a database of alleged enemies of Ukraine. 

“Federal bureaucrats should not support or partner with foreign groups that attempt to intimidate and silence U.S. citizens and lawmakers,” Banks wrote. “I am urging the Appropriations Committee majority to support efforts in the Fiscal Year 2025 SFOPS bill to force the State Department and USAID to end all relations with foreign NGOs like TEXTY that seek to silence the speech of Americans they dislike and to sway U.S. policymakers to serve their own interests.” 

Banks also wrote to Roberts Tuesday as well as other individuals and entities that were on the list. 

“The Appropriations Committee’s markup of its bill to fund the State Department and USAID during Fiscal Year 2025 is scheduled to take place tomorrow,” Banks added.