Clarification on DOGE’s Claim of Cancelled Alpaca Farming Grant in Peru

The IAF issued a $275,510 grant for alpaca farmers in Peru, but DOGE claimed it canceled a $903,811 grant for the same purpose. Documentation indicates only the smaller grant existed, leading to confusion over DOGE’s reported figures. Clarification is sought on the discrepancy as miscommunication persists.

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) had allocated a grant of $275,510 in 2023 to a Peruvian association that assists alpaca farmers. However, DOGE announced on March 4, 2025, that it drastically downsized the IAF to a single employee and canceled multiple grants due to a directive by former President Trump aimed at reducing bureaucracy.

Contrary to DOGE’s assertion of a canceled grant totaling $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru, records from usaspending.gov and IAF’s website indicate that the only significant funding was limited to the aforementioned $275,510 grant. It remains unclear how DOGE arrived at the $903,811 figure or which grants this amount references. Attempts to obtain clarification from DOGE are ongoing.

The grant was part of a project intended to bolster the resilience of Indigenous alpaca communities and artisans in Arequipa. AASUPASI, the grant recipient, is recognized as a women-led Collagua Indigenous association. The project is also reported to have received an additional $518,405 as a “counterpart commitment,” although the source of this funding was not specified by the IAF. Nonetheless, this still does not account for the total sum claimed by DOGE.

In summary, the recently announced cancellation of a purported $903,811 grant for alpaca farming in Peru by DOGE contrasts with official records indicating that only a $275,510 grant was awarded by the IAF. The exact origins of DOGE’s figure remain unclear, pending further investigation. It is essential to obtain accurate information surrounding government grants to ensure transparency and accountability.

Original Source: www.snopes.com