The OP is probably referring to financing that Open Whisper Systems (precursor to the Signal foundation) received from Open Technology Fund (https://www.opentec

The OP is probably referring to financing that Open Whisper Systems (precursor to the Signal foundation) received from Open Technology Fund (https://www.opentech.fund/results/supported-projects/open-whisper-systems/ https://www.opentech.fund/results/supported-projects/open-wh...) which according to the Wikipedia has ties to the US government (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Technology_Fund https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Technology_Fund). I guess the idea was to provide encrypted means of communication to dissidents in US-hostile countries. Though I think it is a moot point. Signal foundation is a US organization and its officers are US citizens. I don't think the US government will have any trouble coercing them to do its bidding regardless of whether it financed them or not.