Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s decision to cancel a $21 million grant aimed at improving voter turnout in India.
During a media briefing, Trump questioned the justification for the financial assistance, stating, “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have plenty of money. They’re one of the highest taxing countries for us, and we can hardly get in because of their high tariffs.”
While acknowledging his respect for India and its Prime Minister, Trump emphasized, “Giving $21 million for voter turnout in India? What about voter turnout here?”
The financial aid, which was part of a broader $486 million budget under the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” was initially allocated by the administration of former President Joe Biden. The grant aimed to influence voter engagement in India.
DOGE, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, announced the termination of the $21 million grant, citing concerns about the efficiency of U.S. taxpayer funds being used for overseas political activities. The Department also stated that an additional $29 million originally earmarked for political initiatives in Bangladesh would also be scrapped.
In a statement, DOGE explained that these cancellations were part of broader efforts to increase government efficiency and ensure that taxpayer dollars were not being allocated to “questionable” political projects abroad.
The move has sparked discussion about the U.S. government’s foreign aid priorities and its role in influencing political processes in other countries.
