Trump Defends USD 21 Million Cut for Voter Turnout in India, Questions Need for Financial Support

Chandigarh, February 19, 2025 — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended the decision by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to cancel a USD 21 million fund allocated for "voter turnout" initiatives in India. Trump questioned the need for such financial assistance, given India’s growing economy and high tariffs, emphasizing that the country no longer required foreign aid.

“Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They have 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. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?” Trump said after signing executive orders at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

The DOGE, established under the Trump administration, is tasked with overseeing and cutting government spending. In an announcement on Sunday, the department revealed a USD 723 million reduction in foreign aid, including the USD 21 million grant to India and a USD 29 million program aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape. The cuts are part of DOGE's broader efforts to curtail what it deems unnecessary expenditures.

Trump’s remarks come just days after economist Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, expressed strong criticism of foreign aid. In a tweet, Sanyal described USAID as "the biggest scam in human history," questioning the recipients of the USD 21 million meant to improve voter turnout in India and the USD 29 million aimed at strengthening Bangladesh's political processes.

Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi also weighed in on the debate, refuting claims that the US was funding voter turnout in India. "The report in a section of media about an MoU by ECI in 2012 when I was CEC, for funding of certain million dollars by a US agency for raising voter turnout in India does not have an iota of fact," he tweeted.

The controversy has sparked significant debate within India, with the BJP joining the discussion and questioning the motive behind what it calls "external interference" in India’s electoral process. BJP leader Amit Malviya raised concerns about who would benefit from such funding, suggesting that it was not the ruling party.

The controversy over the cancelled funds has further fueled tensions between India and the US, with many questioning the role of foreign aid in influencing domestic political processes. As the debate unfolds, it remains to be seen how the US government's decision will impact relations between the two countries.