Over the past several weeks, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) group has launched a sweeping audit and investigation into American discretionary spending and social programs. These efforts have uncovered numerous controversial initiatives by the U.S. federal government, including one based in Greece titled “Empowering LGBTQIA+ Refugees in Greece.”
The grant allotted $25,000 to “provide material and psychological support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees,” seeking also to “inform and raise awareness of civil society on issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.” Thankfully, upon discovery, this program was swiftly canceled. However, its existence — although brief — raises serious concerns regarding U.S. involvement in Greek domestic affairs.
It is already well-established that Greece legalized same-sex marriage under pressure from the European Union in February 2024. That decision undermined Greek sovereignty and stood in direct contradiction to the values of our Orthodox faith.
Likewise, the $25,000 “Empowering LGBTQIA+ Refugees in Greece” grant confirms efforts to reshape Greek society in favor of same-sex marriage. In both cases, anti-Christian ideologies have been fed to Greece by foreign influence, rather than deriving from the will of the Greek people.
Why is this a matter of public concern in Greece? For one, recent American political history reveals how cultural and political change is often imposed from the top down. In the 2000s and into the 2010s, public opinion regarding same-sex marriage, transgenderism, and racial integration only shifted after U.S. governmental policy was altered. Prior to legalization, widespread support for same-sex marriage did not exist.
Applying this same logic suggests Greece is bound to experience a similar phenomenon, whereby a change in social law and policy precedes a shift in public sentiment, rather than the other way around. When external forces exert influence upon the social fabric and legal integrity of a nation, its people are left disoriented and susceptible to propaganda with unclear origins. KTE commends Elon Musk for identifying and terminating this subversive initiative and stands with those demanding a full investigation into NGOs and their sources of foreign funding.
The Greek people have a right to transparency regarding the financial interests behind efforts to reshape their society. Moreover, the Greek government bears a fundamental responsibility to safeguard Hellenic culture and uphold Orthodox Christian principles in governance and public life.
While we support the termination of the LGBTQ refugee program, we call for those funds to be redirected toward a new initiative that aligns with the values of the Greek people, rather than being canceled altogether.
A recent interview with former Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that the United States also applied diplomatic pressure to support the legalization of same-sex marriage, alongside the financial pressure from NGOs. “We’re defending and promoting LGBTQIA+ rights around the world, and we’re doing it in several key ways. First, we’re applying diplomatic pressure to urge governments to reverse discriminatory laws and practices,” said Blinken in a press conference. He went on to mention Greece by name, and explained that the American political establishment views Greece’s cultural and religious foundations as “discriminatory” rather than respecting our national identity and religious institutions.
As a matter of basic principle, foreign countries should not interfere in Greek politics and civil society. Greece has a faith, a set of customs, and traditions that predate even the existence of the United States as a political entity.
The Greek people deserve to live in a country where our way of life is respected rather than co-opted for the political gain of foreign politicians. Greeks must have a government willing to stand up to foreign interference and protect our society, regardless of the political cost.
KTE recommends introducing a “Foreign Agents” bill, which will ensure that NGOs receiving funding from abroad will be legally required to disclose the source and amount of money donated. KTE condemns the foreign interference from the U.S. and E.U., which represents an attack on our sovereignty and cultural identity.