The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the cancellation of a $21 million project that was intended to boost voter turnout in India. This move is part of a larger initiative aimed at reducing unnecessary federal expenditures. Alongside this decision, DOGE also scrapped a $29 million project designed to strengthen the political framework in Bangladesh. These cancellations are part of Musk’s broader cost-cutting strategy, which seeks to eliminate spending he deems wasteful. The announcement quickly sparked controversy, especially in India’s political circles. BJP’s media head, Amit Malviya, took to X to voice his concerns, questioning the motives behind the funding. “$21M for voter turnout? This is clearly an attempt at external interference in India’s electoral process. Who benefits from this? Certainly not the ruling party!” he posted, suggesting that the initiative could have been intended to influence Indias upcoming elections.

In an official statement, DOGE highlighted the broader scope of these international democracy-related projects, revealing that a total of $486 million had been allocated to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening. Within this budget, $22 million was designated to support an inclusive and participatory political process in Moldova, while another $21 million was earmarked for voter turnout efforts in India. The revelation has added fuel to concerns over potential foreign involvement in national electoral processes. Elon Musk’s leadership of DOGE has been marked by an aggressive push to slash federal spending. He has been a vocal critic of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), previously labeling it a criminal organization and advocating for its dissolution. The decision to cancel these international political initiatives is being framed as a step toward protecting American taxpayer money and ensuring that government funds are used more efficiently.

Since its inception, DOGE has implemented sweeping budget cuts, terminating numerous consultancy contracts and reducing expenditures across multiple government departments. While supporters argue that these measures promote financial responsibility and prevent unnecessary spending, critics have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. The abrupt cancellation of projects with significant international implications has only intensified the debate over Musk’s approach to governance and financial oversight.

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