The Trump administration is planning to allocate $4 million to support right-wing media in Europe within a broader package of at least $25 million for civil-society groups pursuing conservative causes. The State Department notified Congress of the plans on August 21, according to four people familiar with the funding. The package includes $3 million to document and analyze democratic backsliding (the erosion of democratic institutions) linked to mass and illegal migration, the independent media landscape and legislative agendas by supranational entities, plus $1 million for a consortium of independent journalists covering national sovereignty, natural rights and religious freedom. The recipients have not been identified. The State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, or DRL, says the funding is intended to strengthen transatlantic ties and promote free speech, while insisting it does not fund political parties. The proposed Europe grants include about $10 million already disclosed in three July and August notices and at least $15 million in the August 21 notification. Funding is expected to be finalized by the end of September. The plans have drawn warnings of foreign interference from European capitals as the region prepares for elections and the Trump administration openly supports populist right-wing and far-right parties. The Europe-related grants form part of a nearly $180 million State Department proposal that also covers programs in South Africa, Brazil, China and North Korea.