DOGE Cancels Grants, Including $1M for Alpaca Farming Project in Peru

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the cancellation of $4.5 million in grants, including $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru and additional cuts affecting various agricultural initiatives across Latin America. Under the leadership of Elon Musk, DOGE aims to optimize federal government operations and claims significant savings, while facing criticism regarding its authority to implement such cuts.

On Tuesday, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the cancellation of $4.5 million in grants as part of its spending cuts, notably including a $903,811 grant for alpaca farming in Peru. Other cancelled grants aimed to address social discrimination for recyclers in Bolivia, which received $364,500, and to promote cultural understanding of Venezuelan migrants in Brazil, receiving $323,633.

Additionally, substantial grant reductions affected various agricultural projects across Latin America. This included $813,210 for vegetable gardening in El Salvador, $731,105 for enhancing the marketability of mushrooms and peas in Guatemala, and $677,342 to expand fruit and jam sales in Honduras. Other cuts detailed $483,345 for artisanal salt production in Ecuador and $39,250 for beekeeping initiatives in Brazil.

DOGE, led by Elon Musk and formed through an executive order from President Donald Trump, aims to optimize federal government operations and reduce expenditures within a timeframe of 18 months. As of March 2023, DOGE reported substantial savings, claiming $8 billion from 2,334 contract terminations and roughly $10 billion from 3,489 grant terminations. Moreover, the organization reported approximately $105 billion in total savings through various measures including fraud detection, contract cancellations, and programmatic changes.

Critics of DOGE voice concerns about the organization’s extensive access to federal systems and the appropriateness of its capacity to cancel contracts and implement cuts across federal agencies. The termination of multiple diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, consulting contracts, and leases for underutilized federal properties has attracted scrutiny. The Inter-American Foundation did not provide a comment regarding these developments at the time of inquiry.

In summary, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has undertaken significant cuts to federal grants, amounting to $4.5 million, with notable reductions including those for alpaca farming in Peru and various agricultural initiatives across other Latin American countries. Led by Elon Musk, DOGE aims to streamline federal spending and operations while facing criticism over its authority to impose cuts and terminate contracts. The organization claims considerable savings through its initiatives amidst ongoing concerns about its reach and impact on federal programs.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com