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Fact-Check: Trump’s Claim on $21 Million USAID Funding for India’s Elections Debunked

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A recent fact-check by The Indian Express (IE) has discredited US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $21 million to support voter turnout in India. Official records indicate that the funding was actually designated for Bangladesh in 2022 and was never intended for India’s electoral process.

Trump’s Claim and the Political Controversy

Trump’s assertion about foreign funding in India’s elections has sparked political debate, with the Indian government and opposition parties clashing over potential foreign interference. However, a detailed investigation into USAID financial records reveals that no such funding was provided to India.

What the USAID Records Reveal

1. $21 Million Grant Was for Bangladesh’s ‘Nagorik Program’

According to the USAID financial records obtained by The Indian Express, the $21 million grant in question was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, under a project initially called ‘Amar Vote Amar’ (My Vote is Mine), later renamed ‘Nagorik (Citizen) Program’ in November 2022.

  • The USAID grant, Federal Award Number 72038822LA00001, was approved in July 2022.
  • The program aimed at strengthening political and civic engagement among students in Bangladesh ahead of the January 2024 elections.
  • Out of the $21 million, $13.4 million has already been disbursed to various sub-projects supporting youth democratic leadership and civic engagement.

2. CEPPS and USAID’s Global Democracy Support Programs

The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), a USAID-funded entity specializing in democratic governance projects, received the $21 million grant for Bangladesh.

  • CEPPS was scheduled to receive $486 million from USAID for various global democracy initiatives.
  • The Department of Government Expenditure (DOGE) report listed two major grants—
    • $21 million for “voter turnout in India” (which has now been proven to be Bangladesh).
    • $22 million for “inclusive and participatory political process” in Moldova, approved on September 16, 2022.
  • As of now, $13.2 million of the Moldova grant has already been disbursed, while the Bangladesh grant has funded over 500 youth democracy events across universities.

3. No USAID-Backed CEPPS Project in India Since 2008

Further fact-checking revealed that USAID has not funded any CEPPS project in India since 2008. USAID grants are country-specific, and the only active USAID-funded CEPPS project matching the $21 million figure was the Bangladesh program.

  • A USAID advisor in Dhaka publicly confirmed that the grant was for Bangladesh, stating he was managing the Nagorik project.
  • MGR’s director, Prof. Aynul Islam, posted on social media that over 10,264 university students in Bangladesh had benefited from democracy sessions funded by USAID under the Nagorik program.

Why Trump’s Claim is Misleading

  • Official USAID records confirm that the $21 million was allocated for Bangladesh, not India.
  • There is no evidence of USAID funding voter turnout initiatives in India.
  • No USAID-backed CEPPS project has been active in India since 2008.
  • The Nagorik program, managed by USAID Bangladesh, was aimed at student-led civic engagement programs ahead of Bangladesh’s elections.

No USAID Interference in India’s Elections

The Indian Express investigation effectively debunks Trump’s claim, proving that the $21 million grant he referenced was not related to India’s elections. Instead, the funds were directed toward Bangladesh’s democracy and civic engagement programs under the Nagorik initiative.

While political debates over foreign influence in elections continue, fact-checking official records confirms that USAID has had no recent involvement in India’s electoral processes, dismissing the allegations of external interference.

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