By Tibet Press
July 2, 2025 | Dharamshala, India
The United States has restored $7 million in funding for Tibetan exile programs, reversing previous aid cuts and renewing support for health, education, and other essential initiatives, according to Penpa Tsering, President (Sikyong) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
The funding restoration marks a significant policy shift following the Trump administration’s 2017 decision to reduce foreign aid under its “America First” agenda. Those cuts had disrupted assistance programs across the globe, including in Tibetan refugee communities.
Announcing the development during a press briefing held alongside the 90th birthday celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, Sikyong Tsering said, “I’m happy to inform you that the U.S. government has decided to lift the termination.” He added that the CTA received official confirmation of the renewed funding just two days prior.
Tsering acknowledged that the aid suspension had impacted the CTA’s operational momentum but noted that interim support had been secured from other sources. “We did manage to get stop-gap arrangements from other governments. Also, we’ll be looking to diversify our sources in the future,” he remarked.
The restored aid reflects Washington’s enduring commitment to the Tibetan cause, even as China continues to brand the Dalai Lama a separatist. U.S. lawmakers have consistently maintained that the Chinese government must not interfere in the process of selecting the Dalai Lama’s successor.
Meanwhile, in a message to his followers, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed his commitment to the traditional Tibetan reincarnation system, stating that he would be reborn and outlining the process of identifying his successor—setting the stage for renewed tension with Beijing, which seeks to exert control over the succession.
Since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama has led the Tibetan freedom movement in exile from India. The U.S. government, across multiple administrations, has remained vocal in its support for Tibetan religious freedom and human rights.
