An entire government agency has been left in the hands of just one employee thanks to Elon Musk's task force.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by the billionaire tech mogul and close friend of US President Donald Trump , Musk, has stripped back a government agency to just one member of staff.
On Tuesday (March 4), DOGE announced the Inter-American Foundation had 48 employees with an average salary of $131,000 per annum, which has now been cut to the 'statutory minimum' of one worker.
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The move comes as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to reduce federal bureaucracy and cut costs, with Musk's DOGE spearheading the mission.
The radical change was announced on Twitter, where DOGE wrote in a post: "The Inter-American Foundation, an agency whose primary action was to issue foreign grants ($60M budget), has been reduced to its statutory minimum (1 active employee)."
What does the Inter-American Foundation do?
The Inter-American Foundation is an independent US foreign assistance agency, created by Congress in 1969, to invest in development projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to its website, the agency invests in 'locally-led development works' in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica and Peru to 'help communities realize opportunities and solve their own problems.'
It funds sustainable agriculture initiatives, as well as enterprise development, civic engagement and human rights, natural resource management and 'alternatives to irregular migrations and violence.'
Since 1972, it has invested more than $945 million into more than 5,800 projects and currently has 425 active projects.
What grants have been cut?
According to DOGE, several grants have also been axed alongside payroll staff.
This includes:
- $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru
- $364,500 to reduce social discrimination of recyclers in Bolivia
- $813,210 for vegetable gardens in El Salvador
- $323,633 to promote cultural understanding of Venezuelan migrants in Brazil
- $731,105 to improve marketability of mushrooms and peas in Guatemala
- $677,342 to expand fruit and jam sales in Honduras
- $483,345 to improve artisanal salt production in Ecuador
- $39,250 for beekeeping in Brazil
What has Donald Trump said?
The cuts have been made to address the President's executive order, filed on February 19.
The order states the Administration seeks to 'dramatically reduce the size of the Federal Government, while increasing its accountability to the American people.'
"Reducing the size of the Federal Government will minimize Government waste and abuse, reduce inflation, and promote American freedom and innovation," it adds.
Among its list of 'unnecessary' governmental agencies are the Inter-American Foundation as well as the Presidio Trust, the United States African Development and the United States Institute of Peace.
"The non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law," the order read.
Why is DOGE cutting US foreign aid?
The Trump administration has said it is cutting more than 90 per cent of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid and $60 billion in US assistance around the globe, reports AP, plus 45 per cent of grants issued by the State Department.
Curtailing humanitarian help comes as the government has scrutinized such spending and has announced major cutbacks to reduce what it sees as waste and excess in the federal government.
The Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder has been tasked with charging the cuts and shrinking departments to ensure Trump's executive orders are implemented and enforced.
DOGE claims it has spared around $65 billion so far in its cost-cutting spree.
Topics: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Money
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