National/ International Desk
17 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
The United States Department of Energy (DOE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, has announced budget cuts, including a $2.1 million grant meant to boost voter participation in India’s elections. The decision is part of a broader effort to reduce government spending.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Musk as the head of the DOE. On Saturday, the department posted on ‘X’ about the budget cuts, stating that American taxpayer dollars previously allocated to various countries had been revoked.
Among the funds affected was a $48.6 million grant for strengthening election and political processes globally. This included $2.2 million for Moldova’s elections and $2.1 million for increasing voter participation in India. The post did not provide further details about the funding reductions.
The announcement comes shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S., where he also met Musk. Other affected grants include $2.9 million for strengthening Bangladesh’s political environment, $2 million for financial stability in Nepal, and $1.9 million for biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
Additionally, a $1 million grant for voluntary medical male circumcision in Mozambique has been cut. Other reductions include $2.3 million for strengthening independent voices in Cambodia, $3.2 million for the Prague Civil Society Center, $4 million for gender equality and women’s empowerment programs, and $1.4 million for public procurement reforms in Serbia.
A $4.7 million allocation aimed at improving education outcomes in Asia has also been scrapped. The DOE’s move is seen as part of the U.S. government’s broader efforts to streamline spending and eliminate non-essential expenses.
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