WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is headed by Elon Musk, has canceled several global funding programs, including a $21 million grant for improving voter turnout in India. The move is part of a wider strategy to cut federal spending.
In a release issued on February 16, DOGE outlined the cancellation of several projects, including $10 million for voluntary medical male circumcision in Mozambique and $29 million to support the political environment in Bangladesh. The department reiterated its dedication to ending what it views as wasteful expenditure of U.S. taxpayers’ funds.
The revocation of the $21 million India voter participation grant has ignited political controversy. India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Amit Malviya raised suspicions regarding possible external interference in the Indian electoral system, asking on whose behalf this funding would serve.
This action is in line with President Trump’s instruction to make budget cuts a priority and cut government spending. Elon Musk, who was tasked with heading DOGE, has been vocal about the need for deep cuts in federal spending to avoid national bankruptcy.
Despite that, the move has not gone uncontested. Protests broke out around the United States with demonstrators marching outside Tesla dealerships in New York, Seattle, and Kansas City. Demonstrators complained about Musk’s association with President Trump and his push for government austerity, worrying about threats to Tesla as well as overall public services.
There have also been legal challenges. A group of state attorneys general has brought a lawsuit seeking to prevent Musk from pursuing his efforts to cut federal spending, claiming that his appointment gives him unfettered legal powers without congressional consent.
