The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced the cancellation of 139 grants deemed wasteful, amounting to a total of $215 million. This move is part of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's ongoing review of U.S. Department of State foreign assistance programs. The announcement was made public through a post on X.
According to DOGE, some of the canceled grants include $5.2 million for a "Media Diversity" program in the United Kingdom, which featured initiatives such as "Get the Trolls Out!"—an anti-discrimination effort; $2.5 million for "advancing critical civic engagement" in Uzbekistan; and $2 million for "Expanded Newsroom Sustainability and Engagement" in Moldova. Other canceled projects involve $1 million for "channeling gig workers' rights" in Brazil and $2.4 million for "Responding to Disinformation Through Creative Content" in Belarus.
Further details from DOGE reveal additional canceled grants: $1.7 million for "Independent Media for Peace and Democracy" in Europe; $1.7 million for "BeMediaWise" in Bulgaria; and $900,000 for a "Place for Women to Join to Organize" in Mauritania, among others.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State canceled wasteful grants
| https://x.com/DOGE/status/1912165825571627132
An April 2025 Harvard-Harris Poll indicates that 69% of voters support efforts to identify and eliminate fraud and waste in government expenditures, compared to 31% who prefer reducing government spending by $1 trillion. The poll also shows that a majority believe the U.S. should strive toward balancing its budget and reviewing current spending.
DOGE is described as a federal agency dedicated to optimizing government spending, reducing waste, and ensuring accountability in contract management. By reviewing expenditures and canceling non-essential contracts, DOGE aims to enhance fiscal responsibility and improve the effectiveness of public resource allocation.
