"Goals not met": Prien overhauls 'Democracy lives' funding program - Germany's Democracy in Action Faces Deep Cuts Under New Reforms

The federal funding program Democracy in Action is facing major changes under German Education Minister Karin Prien. Launched in 2015 to boost civic engagement and fight radicalisation, the initiative will now see cuts to over 200 projects by the end of the year. Critics within the conservative CDU/CSU bloc have long questioned whether the funding delivers real results.

The Democracy in Action program was introduced nearly a decade ago to tackle polarisation and extremism. For 2026, it still holds a budget of €191 million, but Prien argues that too many projects fail to achieve lasting impact. She plans to shift support toward established local institutions like schools, sports clubs, and libraries instead.

Two key funding areas will be scrapped: the development of a nationwide infrastructure and innovation projects aimed at new audiences. Digital efforts to counter online radicalisation, however, will receive a significant funding boost. The changes will affect well-known organisations, including the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, BUND, HateAid, Correctiv, the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Prien has not specified how many of the 200-plus projects since 2015 have been reviewed or proven successful. The ministry has yet to release detailed assessments of their long-term effectiveness.

The overhaul means funding for many projects will end this year. Prien's reforms focus on local groups with existing community ties, while cutting broader structural and outreach initiatives. The shift reflects ongoing concerns about the program's cost-to-result balance within the CDU/CSU.