US government increases funding for Tor, giving $1.8m in 2013

In 2013, Tor, a popular service providing internet anonymity, received more than $1.8 million from the US government, a sharp rise compared to the previous year’s funding. This increase occurred even while the National Security Agency (NSA) was actively formulating strategies to undermine the Tor network.

Financial documents from The Tor Project reflect a total income of $1,822,907 from the U.S. government during 2013. Much of this funding was facilitated through ‘pass-through’ grants—a process involving funds delivered from the government via a distinct third-party organization.

Originally coined ‘the onion router,’ Tor provides users the facility to browse the internet anonymously. It accomplishes this by routing network connections through numerous encrypted relays to prevent third-parties from tracking a user’s virtual footprints or identifying other users on the same website. This secure browsing feature has led to Tor’s broad acceptance by various entities advocating free speech in China and Syria, as well as by Western users seeking to avoid surveillance.

The most substantial monetary contributions came from federal sources, namely SRI International—a non-profit dedicated to fostering research and industry applications—and Internews Network, an international non-profit focusing on democracy and human rights initiatives. Internews Network donated $555,413 stemming from the US Department of State while SRI International contributed $830,269 traced back to the US Department of Defense.

The National Science Foundation and the US Department of State also provided direct funding to the Tor Project, contributing $100,325 and $256,900, respectively.

Interestingly, despite the NSA’s pursuits to destabilize its services, Tor’s government funding has remained consistent. For example, in 2012, the organization received only $1.2 million, none of which was directly from the US government.

The US government’s persistent financial support of Tor, including contributions from the Department of Defense, contrasts starkly with the 2013 revelation by the Guardian. According to the British news outlet, both NSA and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) were endeavoring to compromise or shut down Tor’s anonymous nature.

source: Alex Hern/The Guardian

Minor enhancements were applied in 2025 for readability.