“Trump Defends Decision to Cancel $21 Million Fund for ‘Voter Turnout in India'”

US President Donald Trump defended the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) decision to cancel a $21 million fund intended for voter turnout in India. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, Trump questioned why such financial support was being provided to India, a nation with a rapidly growing economy and high taxation rates. “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They’re one of the highest taxing countries in the world, and we can hardly get in there due to their high tariffs,” Trump said, adding that while he respects India and its Prime Minister, the funding seemed unnecessary.

On February 16, DOGE, led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of a $22 million funding initiative, including the $21 million allocated for voter turnout in India. The move was highlighted in a post on X, where DOGE listed the specific US taxpayer expenditures being scrapped.

The cancellation sparked controversy in India, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticizing the opposition Congress party. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya accused the Congress-led UPA of enabling the infiltration of India’s institutions by forces opposed to the nation’s interests.