New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has formally requested detailed information from the US Embassy regarding the allocation and expenditure of USAID funds for projects in India over the past decade.
This request comes amid claims from US President Donald Trump, suggesting that USAID funds were used to influence voter turnout in Indian elections.
On Thursday, the MEA informed the Rajya Sabha that while some open-source information is available, the US government has not yet provided the requested details. The statement came following a query by Kerala MP and Rajya Sabha member John Brittas.
The Indian government is awaiting an official response to clarify the scope of USAID’s involvement in India, including the NGOs through which these projects have been executed.
It also stated that publicly available information about beneficiaries has been heavily redacted, citing apparent compliance with the US Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016, which allows for exceptions to disclosure due to concerns about security or US national interests.
The request from the MEA follows significant changes in US foreign assistance programmes.
In January, Trump signed an Executive Order to review all US foreign aid programmes. The review, conducted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), resulted in the cancellation of 83 percent of USAID programmes, including around 5,200 contracts. Approximately 1,000 programs will continue under more effective management by the U.S. State Department.
Trump, during a speech in Miami in February, questioned the need for the US to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India, implying the funds were intended to influence the election outcome.
In response, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had then termed the claim “very deeply troubling” and raised concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs. Jaiswal confirmed that various Indian ministries and agencies are investigating the matter, with updates expected in due course.
The MEA’s statement also referred to information shared by the DOGE, which triggered a political slugfest in India. However, Jaiswal had emphasised that it would be premature to make a public comment until further clarity is obtained.
The USAID has been a significant contributor to health and population projects in India over the past two decades, with a focus in recent years on strengthening systems to counter China in the Indo-Pacific. In 2022, USAID ranked fourth among Official Development Assistance (ODA) providers to India, contributing $228 million, next only to Japan, the European Union, and Germany.
Since 2001, the USAID has disbursed a total of $2.8 billion in ODA to India. In 2024, of the $151 million allocated, $80 million went to health and population programmes, including $42.99 million for basic health services and $16 million for Covid relief.
Other significant allocations included $20.94 million for maternal and child health and family planning, and $17.12 million for environmental protection, according to Foreignassistance.gov, a joint platform of USAID and the US Department of State that provides details on American non-defense foreign assistance channeled through governments and NGOs.
In February, the US Federal Court temporarily blockexd an executive order halting foreign aid, which the Trump administration had appealed. Following that, in March, the US Supreme Court had rejected the government’s request to reverse the ruling.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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