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RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 308
ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025
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USAID FUNDING IN INDIA
*308. DR. JOHN BRITTAS:
Will the Minister Of External Affairs be pleased to refer to answer to Unstarred Question 1659 given in Rajya Sabha on 13.03.2025 and state:
(a) the status of the actions taken by Government on the reports suggesting the utilization of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds to increase voter turnout in Indian elections and details thereof;
(b) whether Government has received from the US the details of expenditures on all USAID projects in India over last three years, sought through US Embassy;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, actions taken thereon; and
(e) the quantum of USAID funding to India in the last three years, year-wise, State-wise, and beneficiary wise including NGOs and individuals?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 308 FOR REPLY ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING USAID FUNDING IN INDIA ASKED BY DR. JOHN BRITTAS
(a) to (e): U.S. Administration’s decision to close down USAID operations worldwide
On 20 January 2025, the U.S. President signed Executive Order (EO) 14169, initiating a comprehensive review of all U.S. foreign assistance programs to ensure their efficiency and alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities. Under this EO, all foreign assistance funded by or through the U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was paused for a 90-day period and became subject to an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Government’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On 10 March 2025, the U.S. Secretary of State announced the elimination of 83% of USAID’s programs—approximately 5,200 out of 6,200 initiatives—with the remainder slated for transfer to the Department of State.
On 29 March 2025, the U.S. Congress was formally notified of the administration’s intent to dissolve USAID permanently, with residual operations to be absorbed by the State Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD). A detailed plan was submitted to Congress outlining the modalities for integrating USAID’s remaining global health functions into GHSD.
Effective 1 July 2025, USAID’s operations officially ceased. Approximately 83% of its programs were terminated, and 94% of its staff were laid off. The State Department assumed responsibility for the remaining 17% of USAID’s operations and foreign aid administration.
The full closure of USAID is scheduled to be completed by 2 September 2025.
USAID and the issue of "Voter Turnout” in India
While the review of USAID operations was ongoing in the United States, on 16 February 2025, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in a post on the social media platform X, announced the cancellation of $486 million in USAID funding for Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) projects worldwide, including $21 million allocation for increasing "voter turnout in India.”
On 28 February 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi to urgently furnish details of expenditure incurred on all USAID-assisted/funded projects in India over the last ten years (other than those being implemented under the seven Partnership Agreements with the Government of India). MEA also sought a list of NGOs/implementing partners through which such initiatives were executed.
On 2 July 2025, the U.S. Embassy shared data that it said covered USAID funding in India from 2014 to 2024, including details of implementing partners, objectives, and key accomplishments of each activity undertaken. The Embassy also maintains that "USAID/India did not receive or provide funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India from fiscal years 2014 to 2024, nor has it implemented any voter turnout-related activities in India.”
On 29 July 2025, the U.S. Embassy conveyed to MEA that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close by 15 August 2025.
On 11 August 2025, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, in a letter to the Department of Economic Affairs, conveyed that all seven Partnership Agreements signed with the Government of India would stand closed with effect from 15 August 2025.
A beneficiary-wise breakdown of USAID allocations made available to the Ministry for three years – 2022, 2023 and 2024, as sought by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, is placed at Annexure-A.