The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the cancellation of $577 million in international grants, redirecting $237 million in savings back to domestic priorities. This announcement was made in a post on X on March 26.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, led by newly appointed Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a series of international labor grants aimed at promoting worker rights and gender equity abroad have been terminated. This decision impacts programs across various regions, including Mexico, South America, West Africa, and several Asian countries.
The canceled grants included initiatives such as $10 million for "gender equity in the Mexican workplace," $12.2 million for "worker empowerment in South America," and $6.25 million for "improving respect for worker's rights in agricultural supply chains" in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Other affected programs involved efforts to elevate women's participation in the workplace in West Africa, assist foreign migrant workers in Malaysia, enhance social security access for internal migrant workers in Bangladesh, and promote safe and inclusive work environments in Lesotho.
DOGE's post on X
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Chavez-DeRemer said on X that "the era of Americans' tax dollars bankrolling foreign handouts for things like 'Improving Gender Equity in the Mexican Workplace' is over." She added that "$237M" saved from these cancellations will be reinvested into developing the workforce and protecting children domestically.
DOGE is described as a federal agency focused on optimizing government spending, reducing waste, and ensuring accountability in contract management. By reviewing expenditures and canceling non-essential contracts, DOGE aims to improve fiscal responsibility and enhance the effectiveness of public resource allocation.
