Former US President Donald Trump questioned the $21 million that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, had allotted to India for voter turnout initiatives in February 2025. According to Trump, India doesn’t require this kind of financial assistance because it is a developing nation with high tax rates.
At his home in Mar-a-Lago, Trump questioned, “Why are we giving India $21 million? They are far wealthier. They are among the nations that impose the highest taxes on us; their tariffs are so high that we can hardly enter. Despite my admiration for India and its Prime Minister, $21 million for voter turnout?
DOGE is characterized as a project ofA list of taxpayer-funded programs that have been slashed, including the $21 million set aside for India’s voter turnout, was released by the second Trump administration in an effort to cut unnecessary spending. DOGE made the announcement on X, claiming that US taxpayer money would be used to purchase now-canceled goods.
The “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening” received $486 million in grants, $21 million of which went toward “voter turnout in India.” Additionally, USD 39 million for “fiscal federalism” and “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal and USD 29 million for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh” were canceled.
In India, the decision has sparked political discussion. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) official criticized thefund as outside meddling, but Congress has called for an inquiry.
As stated by the department headed by Musk, “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled.”
Amit Malviya of the Bhartiya Janta Party responded to the news on his X. “Voter turnout: $21 million? This is unquestionably outside meddling in India’s election process. Who benefits from this? “Definitely not the ruling party!” his post said.
