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In today’s digital age, misinformation spreads rapidly on social media, often shaping public opinion based on false narratives. Many users unknowingly fall for misleading claims due to a lack of awareness about verifying information. Recently, global discussions about DOGE and USAID funds in the United States have gained significant attention.
In Sri Lanka, social media has been flooded with posts alleging that the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had revealed individuals who received these funds. To uncover the truth, we conducted a thorough investigation into the accuracy of these claims.
Social Media Posts :
A caption circulating on social media claims that under the Trump administration, DOGE identified a list of Sri Lankan politicians and public figures as recipients of USAID political funding.
These posts were widely shared on social media and circulated through WhatsApp.
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As a result, we received numerous inquiries questioning their accuracy. In response, we initiated an investigation to verify the truth behind these claims.
Fact-Check:
There is no credible evidence to support this claim. No official sources, including the U.S. Government, The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), or USAID, have published or confirmed a list of Sri Lankan individuals who received political funding from USAID. The claim appears to be unverified and misleading.
Background on DOGE and USAID
What is DOGE?
DOGE is a temporary organisation under the United States Government, established by an executive order from President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. Led by Elon Musk, DOGE’s stated purpose is to reduce wasteful and fraudulent federal spending and eliminate excessive regulations. Its creation and subsequent actions have been the subject of numerous protests and ongoing lawsuits.
Members of the Democratic Party and legal experts have stated that DOGE does not have the authority to take actions they describe as a “takeover,” “freeze,” or “coup.”
The White House and members of the Republican Party have defended DOGE and Musk, stating they were in full compliance with federal law. International media reports on this topic can be found here, here and here, and the Wikipedia report is available here.
What Has DOGE Mentioned About Sri Lanka?
DOGE’s confirmed actions regarding Sri Lanka mainly revolve around USAID’s expenditures on media-related programs
Elon Musk has personally criticised several projects, including a Sri Lankan initiative funded by USAID for gender-neutral media training, which he described on his ‘X’ account as a “crazy waste of your tax money. However, neither the document he shared nor any official U.S. statement mentioned or identified any Sri Lankan politicians or public figures as recipients of USAID political funding.
USAID allocated $7.9 million to the Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) project, which focused on journalistic ethics, including training on gender pronouns and neutral language.
Additionally, DOGE highlighted its recent efforts to eliminate wasteful spending, stating on ‘X’ that they coordinated with 35 agencies to terminate 199 unnecessary contracts, saving approximately $250 million. Among the terminated contracts was one for “Asia Pacific – Sri Lanka climate change mitigation adaptation and resilience coordinator services for forest service” and another for a workshop titled “Intercultural communication diversity dialogue circle communicating across differences.
Actions regarding USAID
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has taken several actions regarding USAID
Blocked USAID Funding:
Influenced by DOGE, the Trump administration placed a 90-day freeze on most foreign assistance, temporarily halting USAID’s funding.
Attempted to Shut Down USAID Headquarters:
USAID employees were instructed to work remotely following efforts to close the agency’s Washington, D.C. headquarters as part of a broader restructuring strategy.
Criticism of USAID’s Social Programs:
DOGE and the Trump administration criticised USAID for spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and DEI initiatives have since ended.
Freezing Treasury Payments to USAID:
The administration sought to freeze Treasury Department payments directed toward USAID, limiting its financial operations. (AP News)
These actions significantly impacted USAID, leading to legal challenges and public criticism regarding the humanitarian consequences of these funding cuts.
Agencies Targeted by DOGE
Elon Musk and DOGE have been involved in efforts to dismantle or restructure several federal agencies and programs, including:
Department of Education:
DOGE has taken steps to dismantle the Department of Education, leading to concerns about the future of federal education programs.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
The CFPB’s Washington headquarters was shut down under DOGE directives, and President Trump defended the move by criticising the agency’s purpose.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
There are concerns that DOGE’s actions may lead to the dismantling of OSHA, which could have significant implications for worker safety and labour rights.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting:
DOGE has proposed eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public media outlets like PBS and NPR.
Planned Parenthood:
The agency has also targeted federal funding for Planned Parenthood, aiming to cut nearly $300 million allocated to the organisation.
International Organizations:
DOGE plans to reduce grants totalling $1.5 billion to various international organisations, though specific entities have not been detailed.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS):
Musk has indicated intentions to reform the IRS, including simplifying the tax code and potentially creating a free tax filing app.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice
According to the Wall Street Journal, while Elon Musk has not explicitly outlined their plans for the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, and Securities and Exchange Commission, Musk is reportedly expected to implement budget cuts to these agencies.
NASA:
While Elon Musk has not specified any cuts to NASA, some of the agency’s funding authorisations are set to expire this year. Senator Ernst has suggested that cuts could be made from the “more than $500 million” spent on “unearned bonuses for bureaucrats and contractors” at NASA. Forbes has reached out to the agency for comment.
Here is the updated data on DEI-related contract cancellations, along with the complete list of affected agencies below
We have contacted the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka for further confirmation and will update this article with their response.
As mentioned in the social media posts above, no names have been disclosed thus far. We will update this article if such a revelation occurs. An analysis of the facts shows no confirmation regarding whether the individuals mentioned in the social media posts have received USAID funds. Additionally, DOGE, the primary organisation involved, has not disclosed the names of any groups or individuals receiving such funds.
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Conclusion :
The claim that DOGE identified a list of Sri Lankan politicians and public figures as recipients of USAID political funding is false.
While DOGE has criticised USAID’s expenditures, including funding for certain journalism initiatives in Sri Lanka, there is no official evidence linking individual Sri Lankan politicians to USAID funding for political purposes. Additionally, DOGE’s actions mainly focus on restructuring USAID and reducing its budget rather than exposing specific funding recipients.
Title:DOGE has not revealed the names of Sri Lankan politicians or public figures who had received USAID funds!
Fact Check By: Pavithra SandamaliResult: Misleading
