DOGE Cuts $4.5 Million in Grants, Including Alpaca Farming Funding

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has canceled $4.5 million in grants, including $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru, as part of efforts to streamline federal spending. Other notable cuts include funding for social initiatives aimed at recyclers in Bolivia and Venezuelan migrants in Brazil. The organization, led by Elon Musk, reports substantial savings through contract and grant cancellations.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has recently announced the cancellation of $4.5 million in grants, notably including one for alpaca farming in Peru. Other cancellations pertain to initiatives aimed at reducing social discrimination against recyclers in Bolivia and promoting cultural understanding of Venezuelan migrants in Brazil. This decision reflects a broader push to streamline federal spending that has involved significant reductions in grant allocations.

Within the framework of this cutback, the Inter-American Foundation has seen its operational budget slashed to a mere $60 million with only one active employee remaining. In addition to the alpaca farming grant, other cancellations included approximately $813,210 for vegetable gardens in El Salvador, $731,105 to enhance the marketability of mushrooms and peas in Guatemala, and $677,342 for expanding sales of fruit and jam in Honduras.

Furthermore, DOGE has curtailed funding to improve artisanal salt production in Ecuador by $483,345 and eliminated a $39,250 grant for beekeeping in Brazil. This reflects a substantial effort led by Elon Musk, under a temporary executive order from President Donald Trump, aimed at optimizing the operational efficiency of the federal government within an 18-month timeframe.

As of March 4, DOGE reports that it has achieved contract terminations yielding $8 billion in savings, alongside 3,489 canceled grants totaling approximately $10 billion and 748 lease terminations amounting to about $660 million in savings. They have collectively saved $105 billion through various measures, including fraud detection, asset sales, and reductions in workforce.

However, critics of DOGE raise concerns regarding its access to federal systems and the implications of its authority to cancel federal contracts and make budget cuts across multiple agencies. Notably, DOGE has also discontinued various diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as well as consulting contracts and duplicate programs. The Inter-American Foundation has yet to provide a formal response to these developments.

In summary, DOGE’s recent budget cuts have resulted in the cancellation of multiple grants, including a significant one for alpaca farming in Peru. This move is part of a broader effort to optimize federal government spending. While it has achieved substantial savings, concerns persist regarding the agency’s sweeping powers in making such cuts and the overall impact on social initiatives.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com