Chandigarh: A recent claim by former US President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) regarding $21 million in USAID funds allegedly allocated for voter turnout in India has sparked controversy, particularly within India’s political landscape. However, official records confirm that the funding was actually designated for Bangladesh, not India.
What Was Claimed?
On February 16, DOGE announced the cancellation of several USAID-funded projects, including “$21 million for voter turnout in India.” This claim was amplified by Trump himself during a speech in Miami, where he questioned, “Why do we need to spend $21 million for voter turnout in India? Wow, $21 million! I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected.”
In India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized on this claim, suggesting it pointed to external interference in Indian elections. However, official records tell a different story.
The Facts: Bangladesh, Not India
Documents reviewed by The Indian Express reveal that the $21 million USAID grant was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India. This grant was part of broader funding routed through the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), a Washington, DC-based group specializing in democracy and governance programs.
Key points confirming this include:
- No USAID-funded CEPPS project has been active in India since 2008.
- The only USAID grant matching the $21 million amount and voter-related purpose was sanctioned in July 2022 under Federal Award Identification Number 72038822LA00001.
- This grant was originally assigned to “Amar Vote Amar” (My Vote is Mine), a Bangladesh-based program.
- In November 2022, the program was renamed “Nagorik” (Citizen) Program, aimed at civic and political engagement ahead of Bangladesh’s January 2024 elections.
A USAID Political Processes Advisor in Dhaka even confirmed this on social media in December 2024, stating:
“The USAID-funded $21 million CEPPS/Nagorik project… which I manage.”
Breakdown of the $21 Million Grant
From July 2022 to October 2024, this USAID grant was divided into six sub-grants, distributed among:
- International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) – Based in Arlington, Virginia
- International Republican Institute (IRI) – Washington, DC
- National Democratic Institute (NDI) – Washington, DC
As of now, $13.4 million of the grant has already been spent, but the remaining amount is under review amid USAID’s funding reassessments.
No Indian Connection
Given the lack of any USAID-funded voter turnout projects in India, the claim that $21 million was funneled to influence Indian elections is entirely baseless.
Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India and the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi declined to comment on specific USAID programs. However, a Bangladesh High Commission spokesperson acknowledged that USAID has long been a development partner in Bangladesh, supporting governance and democracy-related initiatives.
With Trump’s administration now reassessing global USAID funding, there remains uncertainty about future US financial support for such initiatives. However, the assertion that funds were used in India is factually incorrect.
