Elon Musk’s DOGE has made a significant move, canceling a $21 million grant aimed at boosting voter turnout in India as part of broader cuts to international aid. This decision, tied to Musk's push for federal budget reductions under the new administration, also includes slashing $29 million for Bangladesh's political landscape, $39 million for Nepal’s fiscal federalism and biodiversity, and $47 million for educational initiatives in Asia.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has canceled a significant $21 million grant designed to increase voter turnout in India, part of broader cuts to U.S. international aid programs(USAID). This decision is aligned with Musk’s push for reducing federal spending under the new administration, and it also includes reductions in global initiatives such as $29 million for strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape, $39 million for Nepal’s fiscal federalism and biodiversity conservation, and $47 million for improving education outcomes in Asia. These cuts have sparked global debates, raising concerns over foreign influence in domestic political processes and questioning the future of U.S. foreign aid programs.
DOGE Cancels $486 Million in Global Aid, Including $21 Million for Voter Turnout in India – Full List of Cuts
In a major shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the cancellation of over $486 million in international funding. This includes the controversial $21 million grant aimed at increasing voter turnout in India, which was part of a larger effort to reduce government spending under the new administration. DOGE shared a full list of the canceled initiatives on Twitter, drawing significant attention globally.
The cancellations, affecting countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Moldova, include:
- $10M for Mozambique’s voluntary medical male circumcision
- $9.7M for UC Berkeley’s Cambodian youth enterprise skills program
- $2.3M for strengthening independent voices in Cambodia
- $32M for the Prague Civil Society Centre
- $40M for gender equality and women’s empowerment
- $14M for improving public procurement in Serbia
- $486M to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, which includes:$22M for inclusive and participatory political processes in Moldova and $21M for voter turnout in India
- $29M for strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape
- $20M for fiscal federalism in Nepal$19M for biodiversity conservation in Nepal
- $1.5M for voter confidence in Liberia
- $14M for social cohesion in Mali
- $2.5M for inclusive democracies in Southern Africa
- $47M for improving educational outcomes in Asia$2M for sustainable recycling models in Kosovo
This bold decision marks a critical pivot in U.S. foreign policy under the new administration, with Musk’s DOGE pushing for deeper federal spending cuts. Critics argue that the move could influence domestic political landscapes, raising concerns about external interference in countries like India and Bangladesh.
Why This Matters: The cancellation of over $486 million in international aid has sparked debates on the role of foreign influence in domestic elections and political processes. With countries like India and Moldova directly affected, critics are questioning the implications of these cuts on democratic processes and international relations.
BJP Accuses George Soros and Congress of Foreign Interference in India’s Electoral Process Over $21M Grant Cancellation
The BJP has accused George Soros and the Congress party of foreign interference in India’s elections after the cancellation of a $21 million grant intended to boost voter turnout. The grant, part of a $486 million initiative under the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, was cut by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
BJP’s Amit Malviya raised concerns on Twitter, questioning who benefits from such funding, saying, “Not the ruling party for sure!” Malviya also linked the 2012 MoU between the Election Commission of India and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), which has ties to Soros’s foundation, accusing the Congress-led UPA government of facilitating foreign influence in India’s electoral process.
This move, part of DOGE’s broader funding cuts, has sparked debates on the impact of foreign aid on India’s democracy.
Modi’s US Visit Sparks Talks on Space, Mobile Tech, and Foreign Aid Amid DOGE’s $21M Grant Cancellation
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, he held discussions with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. The talks focused on enhancing collaboration in space technology, mobile innovations, and US-India tech partnerships.
The visit, which occurred shortly before DOGE’s cancellation of a $21 million grant for voter turnout in India, has raised concerns over foreign interference in India’s electoral process. BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya, have expressed their concerns, linking such initiatives to foreign influence on India’s democracy. The cancellation of this significant funding comes as part of broader cuts to international aid by DOGE, and has sparked a wider debate about the impact of external funding on domestic policies.
While the Modi-Trump-Musk discussions aimed at strengthening the US-India relationship, especially in the space and technology sectors, the DOGE funding cut has shifted focus to the role of foreign aid in influencing India’s elections.
