US cancels $291.3m in planned spending for LGBTQ, Colombian empowerment
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of several planned taxpayer-funded programs. The total amount of money being canceled is a massive $291.3 million.
DOGE revealed that $60 million was originally set aside for the empowerment of Indigenous people and Afro-Colombians. In addition, $3.3 million was to be spent on supporting LGBTQI+ initiatives, but both of these projects have now been scrapped.
The new agency also shared other cancellations, including:
- $74 million for “inclusive justice” efforts in Colombia
- $79 million for “primary literacy” programs in Kenya
- $37 million for “female empowerment” projects in Colombia
- $8 million for efforts to reduce stigma, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ communities in Lesotho
- $25,000 to promote “Vegan Local Climate Action Innovation” in Zambia
In a post on X, DOGE explained that these projects would have been funded by US taxpayer dollars, but have now been canceled.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, with the goal of reducing federal spending. Since its creation, DOGE claims to have saved over $1 billion by canceling diversity, equity, and inclusion contracts, among other expenses.
