The United States has canceled millions of dollars in funding for international programs, including a $21 million initiative to boost voter turnout in India and a $29 million project aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The decision, announced by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is part of broader budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration, reflecting a shift in U.S. foreign aid priorities.
The DOGE, established to streamline federal spending and enhance governmental efficiency, revealed the cuts on social media platform X. "US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been canceled," the department stated. The move aligns with Trump’s agenda to reduce international aid and focus on domestic priorities.
Impact on India and Bangladesh
The $21 million program for India was designed to increase voter participation in the country’s elections. Its cancellation comes just days after Trump met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though the funding cut was not mentioned in their joint statements. In Bangladesh, the $29 million initiative aimed to foster political stability and democratic governance amid ongoing turmoil following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the establishment of an interim administration led by Mohammad Yunus.
BJP Reacts to Funding Cut
Amit Malviya of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the now-canceled funding, calling it "external interference in India’s electoral process." He questioned who would benefit from such initiatives, asserting that it would not be the ruling party.
Broader Cuts to International Aid
The DOGE’s announcement also highlighted cuts to other international programs, including:
- $10 million for voluntary medical male circumcision in Mozambique
- $9.7 million for UC Berkeley to develop enterprise skills among Cambodian youth
- $2.3 million to strengthen independent voices in Cambodia
- $32 million for the Prague Civil Society Centre
- $40 million for a gender equality and women’s empowerment hub
- $14 million to improve public procurement in Serbia
- $20 million for fiscal federalism in Nepal
- $19 million for biodiversity conservation in Nepal
- $1.5 million for voter confidence in Liberia
- $14 million for social cohesion in Mali
- $2.5 million for inclusive democracies in Southern Africa
- $47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia
- $2 million to develop sustainable recycling models in Kosovo
Trump Praises Musk’s DOGE
President Trump lauded the DOGE for identifying significant government savings, claiming tens of billions of dollars had already been saved, with potential savings reaching up to $500 billion. The DOGE, created under Trump’s administration, aims to modernize federal technology and software while maximizing governmental efficiency.
The funding cuts underscore the Trump administration’s focus on reducing international aid and reallocating resources domestically, sparking debates about the implications for global development and diplomatic relations.
