Congress probes activist groups as potential foreign influence channels for China, Iran and Cuba
Lawmakers held a hearing on “Trojan Horses” to investigate whether U.S. activist groups and influencers are being leveraged by hostile states such as China, Iran and Cuba.
During a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing titled “Trojan Horses,” legislators examined how activist organizations and media personalities may serve as proxies for adversarial governments, including China, Iran and Cuba. Former Special Operations Command South adviser Christine Balling and Heritage Foundation fellow Michael Gonzalez described CodePink’s tactics as disruptive and aimed at weakening the American Dream.
Investigators uncovered a financial network that traced $591 million in transactions from tech billionaire Neville Roy Singham to six core nonprofits, which then redistributed funds to dozens of groups worldwide. Examples highlighted included a CodePink member’s banner protest at the Institute of World Politics and streamer Hasan Piker’s trip to Havana with CodePink co-founder Jodie Evans. Rep. Bill Huizenga said the purpose of the inquiry is to expose and halt these covert influence operations that threaten national security and capitalism.
Why it matters
The probe could reveal how foreign powers may be shaping U.S. policy through domestic activist networks.
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