US President Donald Trump has canceled the $21 million fund for India, questioning the need to provide funding, citing India’s growing economy and high tax rates.
On February 16, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), posted a list of canceled US-funded projects, mentioning a $21 million fund for India voting.
"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," Trump stated at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
However, he acknowledged his respect for India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently visited the U.S., stated that while he has great respect for India and its leader, giving $21 million for voter turnout was questionable.
In response to the announcement, BJP's Amit Malviya condemned the canceled funding as '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!" he posted on X.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced that "US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been canceled,"
Funding canceled by DOGE includes $486M to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, $39 million for fiscal federalism and biodiversity conservation in Nepal, $29 million intended for strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh, $22M for an 'inclusive and participatory political process in Moldova and $10 million for Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision.
