Washington: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has announced the cancellation of a USD 21 million (Rs 1,90,67,03,700) fund that was originally allocated for 'voter turnout in India.' The decision was made public on Saturday (local time) through an official post on X, outlining several US taxpayer-funded initiatives that have now been revoked.

The official DOGE handle listed multiple expenditures that have been scrapped, including 'USD 21M for voter turnout in India.' 

The USD 21 million earmarked for India was specifically targeted to boost voter participation in the country’s elections. In Bangladesh, the USD29 million program was designed to foster political stability and enhance democratic governance. 

"US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled," the department stated in the post.

Apart from the Indian voter turnout initiative, several other projects faced funding cuts. These include:

  • USD 10 million for Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision.
  • USD 486 million to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, which included USD 22 million for an  inclusive and participatory political process in Moldova and USD 21 million for voter turnout in India.
  • USD 29 million allocated for strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.
  • USD 39 million for fiscal federalism and biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
  • USD 1.5 million for voter confidence in Liberia.
  • USD 14 million for social cohesion in Mali.
  • USD 2.5 million for inclusive democracies in Southern Africa.
  • USD 47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia.

Reactions to the announcement

The cancellation of funding for voter turnout in India has sparked reactions from political figures. BJP leader Amit Malviya took to X to express concerns over the allocation of such funds in the first place.

"$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India's electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!" Malviya wrote.

DOGE’s spending review under Musk’s leadership

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a department under the Trump administration, has been implementing major cost-cutting measures over the past few weeks. The initiative aims to drastically reduce government spending. However, reports indicate that the department has been seeking access to critical computer systems, including the Treasury payment system, which has raised concerns within various US agencies, as per a report by CNN.

Modi-Musk meeting and bilateral relations

The announcement comes shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Elon Musk during his US visit. Their discussions focused on strengthening collaborations between Indian and US entities in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), "The Prime Minister and Mr. Musk discussed strengthening collaboration between Indian and US entities in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. Their discussion also touched on opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and good governance."

During the meeting, PM Modi also highlighted India's commitment to reform, advocating for 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.'

Following their discussion, PM Modi shared details of the meeting on X, further emphasising India’s focus on fostering global partnerships in cutting-edge technologies and governance efficiency.

ANI