Clarification of Alpaca Farming Grants: DOGE’s Claims Under Scrutiny

This article discusses the Inter-American Foundation’s grant of $275,510 for alpaca farming in Peru and DOGE’s claim of a canceled grant amounting to $903,811. The actual figures, as confirmed by IAF and public records, do not support DOGE’s claims, creating uncertainty surrounding the source of their information.

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) awarded a grant of $275,510 to a Peruvian association aiding alpaca farmers in 2023. Following an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump in March 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was reduced to one employee and several grants were canceled. DOGE claimed that a grant worth $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru was among those canceled.

Contrarily, the IAF confirmed that only the $275,510 grant was made to support alpaca farmers, without any record of a $903,811 amount. It remains unclear what comprised the figure mentioned by DOGE, as it does not correspond with the IAF funding records. Inquiries have been made to DOGE for clarification, but a response is yet to be received.

The IAF retains that the grantee, Artesanos Asociados Sumac Pallay Sibayo (AASUPASI), is a women-led Indigenous association supporting smallholder alpaca farmers in the Arequipa region. The organization’s project involves strengthening the resilience of alpaca communities. While IAF mentions additional funding termed “counterpart commitment” totaling $518,405, this sum does not bridge the gap to the claimed $903,811.

Importantly, the IAF clarified that the 2023 grant to AASUPASI was the sole contribution to alpaca farming projects within Peru. According to publicly available spending records and the IAF’s website, no additional grants are associated with this effort. Although the IAF’s website is currently undergoing maintenance, previous information indicates its establishment in 1969 to support community-led development in Latin America.

The discrepancy between DOGE’s claimed grant of $903,811 and the actual IAF grant of $275,510 raises questions regarding the accuracy of the information released by DOGE. Despite additional funding noted as counterpart commitment, it does not approach the amount stated by DOGE. The IAF firmly maintains that only one grant was provided for alpaca farming in Peru, underscoring the need for clarity in financial reporting.

Original Source: www.snopes.com