US Restores $6.8 Million in Aid for Tibetan Communities

The United States has restored $6.8 million in funding to support Tibetan communities living in South Asia, reversing a cut that had left many programs struggling to survive. The U.S. State Department confirmed the decision to Reuters, bringing relief to Tibetan leaders who had described the earlier cuts as a heavy blow.

The aid had been suspended under former President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, which reduced funding for a wide range of foreign assistance programs. These cuts had affected initiatives aimed at improving food security and preventing the spread of HIV in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas. Tibetan refugees were among those who lost support, despite their long-standing ties to the United States.

Last week, Penpa Tsering, who heads the Tibetan government-in-exile in India, said that Tibetans became “collateral damage” when the funds were withdrawn. Speaking during celebrations for the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, Tsering confirmed that the funding had since been reinstated, a move that he welcomed as a sign of renewed support for Tibetan causes.

A spokesperson for the State Department stated in an email response that the department had indeed reinstated the $6.8 million in assistance, although no specific date was given for the release of the funds.

Beyond the funding announcement, the United States also used the occasion to call on China to end what it describes as interference in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has lived in India for over six decades. Washington has repeatedly expressed concern that Beijing intends to control the succession process, something China insists must be approved by its government.

The restored aid is expected to benefit Tibetan communities across India and neighboring countries, many of whom continue to face challenges in education, healthcare, and cultural preservation. While the funding alone will not solve all of these issues, it signals a renewed commitment from the United States to stand by Tibetans as they work to maintain their identity and dignity far from their homeland.

For many Tibetans in exile, the return of U.S. support offers not just financial relief but a sense of solidarity in their ongoing struggle to keep their culture alive.