‘Deeply concerning’: Jaishankar says India is probing US claims of $21m USAID funding for voter turnout

He described the allegation as "concerning and worrisome," asserting that USAID was allowed to operate in India in "good faith, not for activities which are in bad faith," reported The Hindustan Times.

"Some information has been put out there by the Trump administration people, and obviously, that is concerning... I think, as a government, we're looking into it. My sense is that the facts will come out... USAID was allowed here in good faith, to do good faith activities; now, suggestions are being laid out from America that there are activities which are in bad faith. It's worrisome, and if there's something to it, then the country should know who the people are involved in it," Jaishankar said at an event in New Delhi, said the report.

MEA calls reports "deeply troubling"

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also addressed the issue on Friday, stating that reports of USAID's alleged funding had raised "concerns about foreign interference in India's internal affairs."

"We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain USA activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India's internal affairs. Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter. It would be premature to make a public comment at this stage, so relevant authorities are looking into it, and hopefully, we can come up with an update on that subsequently," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

DOGE halted USAID funding

The US government's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Trump’s close associate Elon Musk, recently posted on X that USAID had allocated $21 million for voter turnout in India but said the funding had been cancelled.

Alok, an official associated with the department, alleged that foreign funding had previously flowed into India unchecked, according to the HT report.

"We have already shown that the government got USD 2119 million between 2004-14 and just 1.5 million between 2014-25. We are shutting down these things. The Indian government is now acting, the US government has issued a list of who has got the money from where… This is part of a deep state. The Bharat Jodo Yatra was also being funded from this money," he claimed.

The controversy has sparked debate over potential foreign influence in India's democratic processes, with the government now examining the claims closely.