We Are Funding Our Own Demise
The Socialist Shift: How Federally Funded NGOs and Foundations Threaten America’s Cities
Major American cities, including New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, are increasingly adopting socialist policies, a shift driven by Washington-based NGOs and foundations, many of which receive substantial federal funding. The election of Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, as New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee on June 24, 2025, underscores this trend. His platform—promising free buses, city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and wealth taxes—reflects agendas pushed by organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and foundations such as the Open Society Foundations, which critics argue are undermining urban vitality with federally backed resources.
NGOs like the DSA, with over 90,000 members nationwide, and foundations like the Open Society Foundations leverage federal grants to amplify their influence. For instance, reports indicate that Open Society received millions in federal funding through initiatives like the Community Development Block Grant program, which supports urban advocacy groups. Unverified claims on X also suggest a $50 million investment through the ACLU in 2014 to promote socialist urban policies. The DSA’s Metro DC chapter, partially funded by federal grants for community organizing, pushes rent control and police defunding through outlets like The Washington Socialist. These policies have tangible consequences: New York’s rent control has driven vacancy rates below 4% in 2023, stifling housing development, while San Francisco’s high taxes and regulations led to a 20% office vacancy rate and a 65,000-person population loss since 2020.
The impact is dire. In Seattle, DSA-backed “defund the police” policies, supported by federally funded NGOs, correlated with a 25% homicide rate spike from 2019 to 2022. Mamdani’s proposed $30 minimum wage by 2030 and city-funded housing could further erode New York’s tax base, driving away high earners. By channeling taxpayer money into NGOs and foundations that promote socialist agendas, the federal government indirectly fuels urban decline, risking the transformation of vibrant cities into economic wastelands like Detroit.