The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently announced significant budget cuts totaling $51 million from the U.S. African Development Foundation. Among the items affected were programs that allocated funds for promoting shea butter, pineapple juice, and mango processing facilities in various African countries.
The DOGE highlighted this decision on social media, outlining how some of the funds were spent. For instance, over $229,000 was used to market organic shea butter in Burkina Faso, while an additional $246,000 was dedicated to mango drying facilities in the Ivory Coast. Other expenditures included $239,738 for marketing pineapple juice in Benin and nearly $100,000 aimed at increasing yogurt production in Uganda.
Led by Elon Musk, DOGE is a temporary agency established by an executive order this year, with the mission to enhance efficiency within the federal government. President Trump assigned the department the task of reducing waste and streamlining operations, with an 18-month timeline to achieve these goals.
In line with its mission, DOGE has been very active, terminating numerous contracts that it deemed unnecessary. Just last month, they reported the cancellation of 113 contracts amounting to $4.7 billion. This included a consulting contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture worth $145,000 related to climate change initiatives in Peru.
Among other cuts, the department removed funding for programs promoting gender equity in Mexican workplaces and worker empowerment initiatives in South America. They have also eliminated various diversity and inclusion programs within federal agencies to prevent overlap and improve resource allocation.
As of this week, DOGE claims its efforts have saved taxpayers around $140 billion, translating to approximately $870 for each taxpayer. This move reflects a growing emphasis on accountability and fiscal prudence within government spending.
