Defending Tesla CEO Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) recent decision to cancel a USD 21 million fund for "voter turnout" in India, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised questions on the need for such financial aid considering the country's economic growth and high tariffs.
Trump Cancels 'Voter Turnout' Fund For India, Asks 'Why Are We Giving USD 21 Million?'
The Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) established under the Trump administration to monitor government spending recently said it decided to slash USD 723 million in foreign aid funding as part of its broader budget overhaul plans.
"Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?" Trump said.
DOGE Cancels Funds For Foreign Countries
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) established under the Trump administration recently said it decided to slash USD 723 million in foreign aid funding as part of its broader budget overhaul plans.
Alongside the India voter turnout funds, the list of scrapped funding included a USD 29 million grant for "strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh" and USD 39 million for "fiscal federalism" and "biodiversity conservation" in Nepal, among other international fundings.
The department emphasized that all the listed expenditures were part of a broader effort to cut unnecessary spending.
Experts Question Claims Of External Funding To Boost Voter Turnout
After DOGE's announcement last week, economist Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister바카라™s Economic Advisory Council, said in a tweet, "Would love to find out who received the US$21mn spent to improve 'voter turnout in India' and the US$ 29mn to 'strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh'; not to mention the US$29mn spend to improve 'fiscal federalism' in Nepal. USAID is the biggest scam in human history."
According to an India Today report, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi also rubbished reports that the US was providing money to boost voter turnout in India.
"The report in a section of media about an MoU by ECI in 2012 when I was CEC , for funding of certain million dollars by a US agency for raising voter turnout in India does not have an iota of fact," he tweeted.
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The BJP also joined the debate and questioned "who gains" from this "external interference in India바카라™s electoral process".
"$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India's electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!" said BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya in a statement, as per a report by NDTV.
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