The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, put out a tweet on X saying $21 million from US taxpayer dollars was going to be spent on voter turnout in India which has been cancelled.

The entry on India was part of a long list of other items on which US taxpayer money was to be spent, as per the tweet.

The department noted that $486 million was to be sent to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” including $21 million for voter turnout in India.

The Indian government has not officially responded to the funding withdrawal. India’s Election Commission, responsible for overseeing the country’s 950 million eligible voters, hasn’t put out an official statement yet.

The $486 million also included $22 million for “inclusive and participatory political process” in Moldova.

Apart from this, the tweet mentions the cancellation of various other political initiatives for other foreign nations including $29 million to “strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh”, $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal, and $1.5 million for “voter confidence” in Liberia, among others.

In recent months, DOGE has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at streamlining government operations and reducing costs. The department has introduced automation tools, restructured staffing models, and implemented AI-driven solutions to enhance efficiency within US government offices.

These measures have led to debates over potential job reductions and cost-cutting strategies, sparking both support and criticism from government employees and policymakers.

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