Sun Feb 16 07:30:13 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Cancels Millions in Overseas Funding, Including Bangladesh Political Project

**Washington D.C.** – The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has announced the cancellation of $29 million in funding earmarked for “strengthening the political landscape” in Bangladesh. This is part of a wider cost-cutting initiative targeting numerous overseas projects, totaling tens of millions of dollars.

Other cancelled projects include $10 million for voluntary medical male circumcision in Mozambique, $9.7 million for a youth development program in Cambodia run by UC Berkeley, and $22 million for voter turnout initiatives in India. A further $39 million allocated for fiscal federalism and biodiversity conservation in Nepal has also been axed.

The decision to halt funding for the Bangladesh project follows President Trump’s denial of US involvement in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Trump dismissed allegations of a US-orchestrated regime change, attributing the situation to long-standing Indian involvement. He deflected questions regarding the role of the previous Democratic administration, suggesting the matter is solely India’s concern.

The cancelled Bangladesh program, previously supported by USAID and the UK’s Department for International Development, aimed to bolster political party capacity, improve party-constituent relations, and reduce political violence. The program, according to Democracy International, worked with political activists and citizens to develop leadership skills and promote constructive engagement.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, has announced discussions with Elon Musk regarding the potential launch of Starlink satellite internet service in the country. Yunus’s interim government, installed after Hasina’s departure, has faced criticism for its response to attacks on religious minorities. Relations between India and Bangladesh have also deteriorated significantly since the political upheaval.

The DOGE’s actions reflect the Trump administration’s broader commitment to drastically reducing government spending and shrinking the size of the US government. The department has been actively reviewing federal agency budgets in search of further cost-cutting opportunities.

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