A government agency was left with only one employee after Musk’s DOGE removed all other staff, raising concerns about operations.
A major change has occurred within a U.S. government agency, leaving it with only one employee.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, made this decision.
The move has sparked discussions about government efficiency and budget cuts.
What led to the government agency reduction?
The drastic reduction in staff is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to decrease federal spending and bureaucracy.
The Inter-American Foundation, which previously employed 48 people, has now been reduced to just one worker.
This decision aims to cut costs and improve efficiency within government operations.
On March 4, DOGE announced that the Inter-American Foundation had an average salary of $131,000 per employee.
The foundation now has only the “statutory minimum” of one active employee to manage its functions.
Understanding the Inter-American Foundation
The U.S. established the Inter-American Foundation as an independent foreign assistance agency in 1969.
Its main purpose is to invest in development projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The foundation aims to support communities in various countries, helping them to solve their own problems and improve their situations.
The agency has funded numerous projects over the years, focusing on areas such as sustainable agriculture, civic engagement, and human rights.
Since its inception, it has invested over $945 million in more than 5,800 projects, with 425 active initiatives currently underway.
Several important grants have been cut.
Along with reducing staff, the Inter-American Foundation has also eliminated several grants.
– $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru
– $364,500 to reduce discrimination among recyclers in Bolivia
– $813,210 for vegetable gardens in El Salvador
– $323,633 to promote 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 for artisanal salt production in Ecuador
– $39,250 for beekeeping initiatives in Brazil
These cuts will have a significant impact on the communities that benefited from these programs.
Trump’s executive order mandates significant agency reductions.
DOGE made the cuts as part of an executive order that President Trump signed on February 19.
The order aims to reduce the size of the federal government and increase accountability to the American people.
The administration believes that cutting down on government size will help minimize waste and promote efficiency.
The executive order identifies various governmental agencies, including the Inter-American Foundation, as unnecessary.
It instructs these agencies to reduce their personnel and functions to the minimum required by law.
The reason behind reducing foreign aid
The Trump administration plans to cut more than 90 percent of the foreign aid provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
This includes approximately $60 billion in assistance globally.
The administration considers many foreign aid programs wasteful and is committed to reducing these expenditures.
By implementing these cuts, the administration hopes to focus resources on domestic issues and reduce the overall size of the government.
This approach has generated mixed reactions from the public and officials alike.
Elon Musk’s role in the changes
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has taken a leading role in executing these government changes through DOGE.
His involvement drew attention due to his tech industry prominence and close ties to President Trump.
Musk’s approach to efficiency reflects his business background, where cost-cutting measures are common.
Observers are curious about how Musk’s business strategies will influence government operations moving forward.
