Washington, DC [US] – The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk under the Donald Trump administration, has announced significant cuts to international spending, including a $29 million project in Bangladesh.
In an effort to reduce government expenditures, DOGE stated on Saturday (local time) that it is canceling the funding originally allocated for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.”
US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled:
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 15, 2025
– $10M for "Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision"
– $9.7M for UC Berkeley to develop "a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills"
– $2.3M for "strengthening…
“USD 29M to ‘strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh,’” read a post from DOGE on X.
Bangladesh’s Starlink Discussion with Elon Musk
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, revealed on Friday that he had discussions with Elon Musk about launching Starlink satellite internet service in Bangladesh.
Yunus held an extensive video conference with Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, on Thursday to advance efforts in introducing Starlink to improve internet connectivity in the country.
During their conversation, Yunus invited Musk to visit Bangladesh for the potential launch, highlighting the initiative’s importance for national development. Musk responded positively, saying, “I look forward to it.”
Both Yunus and Musk underscored the transformative potential of Starlink’s satellite communications, particularly for Bangladesh’s entrepreneurial youth, rural communities, and vulnerable women.
Other International Cuts by DOGE
In an X post, DOGE detailed several taxpayer-funded projects that have been canceled, including:
- $10 million for “voluntary medical male circumcision” in Mozambique
- $22 million for “voter turnout” in India
- $39 million for “fiscal federalism” and “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal
- $1.5 million for “voter confidence” in Liberia
- $14 million for “social cohesion” in Mali
- $2.5 million for “inclusive democracies” in Southern Africa
- $47 million for “improving learning outcomes” in Asia
- $32 million for the Prague Civil Society Centre
- $40 million for a “gender equality and women empowerment hub”
- $14 million for “improving public procurement” in Serbia
This is part of DOGE’s ongoing initiative to restructure government spending, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism.
Trump’s Criticism of USAID
The Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts have also led to scrutiny of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). President Donald Trump recently accused USAID of financial mismanagement, claiming the agency’s spending practices are “fraudulent and unexplainable.”
“USAID is driving the radical left crazy, and there is nothing they can do about it because the way in which the money has been spent, so much of it fraudulently, is totally unexplainable. The corruption is at levels rarely seen before. Close it down,” Trump wrote on X.
DOGE’s efforts to slash spending have also included attempts to gain access to key government financial systems, including the Treasury payment system, which has reportedly faced resistance from other agencies, according to CNN.