Have Lot Of Respect For India, But…

On February 16, DOGE published a list of taxpayer-funded programs that had been cut, including the $21 million that was allocated for India’s voter turnout.

Days after billionaire Elon Musk, leading the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), scrapped a $21 million grant intended to boost “voter turnout” in India, President Donald Trump defended the move and questioned why the initiative used US taxpayers’ money.

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“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They got 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 $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?” President Trump said at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. 

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DOGE Cuts $21 Million in Foreign Assistance for India’s Voter Turnout

On February 16, DOGE published a list of taxpayer-funded programs that it had cut, including the $21 million it allocated for India’s voter turnout. DOGE made the announcement via a post on X, where it laid out a series of foreign assistance programs that it deemed excessive or unjustifiable.

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“US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled,” DOGE declared.

Alongside the India voter turnout funds, the list of scrapped funding included a $29 million grant for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh” and $39 million for “fiscal federalism” and “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal, among other international fundings. 

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The ruling BJP termed the now-cancelled funding “external interference” in India’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

He went further, linking the initiative to what he called “systematic infiltration” of Indian institutions by foreign entities. Mr. Malviya singled out billionaire investor George Soros, whom right-wing political figures worldwide have accused of influencing domestic politics through his Open Society Foundations.