In a shocking revelation, the US government has scrapped $21 million in funding meant to boost voter turnout in India, as part of a massive crackdown on what Elon Musk’s watchdog agency calls a “deep state slush fund.”
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a newly formed body under President Trump’s administration—has axed billions in taxpayer-funded foreign projects, exposing what it claims to be rampant waste and political manipulation disguised as aid.
Among the most controversial cuts is the funding for “inclusive and participatory political process” in India, part of a staggering $486 million election-related package spread across multiple countries.
The slashed projects also include: $29 million for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh” and $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal.
Musk, handpicked by Trump to overhaul government spending, has now turned his sights on the Pentagon, vowing to uncover “hundreds of billions in fraud and abuse.”
While Trump hails Musk’s efforts as a long-overdue clean-up of the US bureaucracy, critics accuse them of gutting key global initiatives to push their own agenda.
As Musk and Trump push ahead with their war on government waste, the fallout from these massive funding cuts—particularly in India and other key US allies—remains to be seen.
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
