&w=3840&q=100)
Doge oversight of US grants website ends, unlocking over $500 bn; federal agencies regain control
A man sprays paint graffiti against Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) on a Tesla showroom in New York, US, April 22, 2025, in this still image taken from video. Extinction Rebellion NYC via Reuters
In yet another sign of declining influence of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in the US administration, it reportedly lost access to a government process for awarding federal funds worth billions of dollars to the public through the grants.gov website.
The Washington Post reported, citing an email and two senior officials, that federal officials were asked Thursday (June 26) to stop routing grant-making requests through Doge.
Notably, in April, Doge staffers edited the process, requiring federal agencies to route their Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) through a Doge-controlled mailbox. This gave Doge the power to approve and reject these opportunities, through which members of the public and welfare organisations could have obtained government grants.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'Dear Agency Partners, We are pleased to inform agencies that they may resume standard [Notice of Funding Opportunity] procedures on Grants.gov, effective immediately,' read an e-mail sent to federal agencies Thursday.
'Please coordinate with your agency's leadership to ensure that all required reviews and approvals by political appointees are completed before posting your funding opportunity,' it added.
White House responds
While the move shows waning Doge's influence in the Donald Trump administration following the exit of Elon Musk in May, the White House insists the department still had a critical role to play.
DOGE will continue to 'facilitate the review of grants, working alongside agency secretaries to determine which grants should continue, which should be terminated, and which require further scrutiny,' said a statement sent by the White House.
'Robust controls remain in place, with DOGE personnel embedded at each agency, assisting secretaries' offices in reviewing grants daily,' the statement read. 'Agency secretaries and senior advisors will continue to implement and leverage the controls initially established by DOGE to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, retaining full agency discretion to determine the appropriate flow of funds at the project level.'
Musk's ugly divorce
Last month, Elon Musk exited the government amid a public feud with Trump, aired across social media, prompting Cabinet officials and senior staff to wrest control from Musk's cost-cutting team. The future of Doge remains unclear: some of Musk's key aides have left, while others have transitioned to permanent government roles.
During Doge's oversight of grants.gov, the Trump administration failed to post over two dozen planned funding opportunities, risking the distribution of congressionally appropriated federal funds.
This delay coincides with the administration's plans to challenge a 1974 budget law by withholding mandated funds, as reported by The Post. At least 30 funding opportunities remain stalled in Doge's controlled mailbox, the sources cited by the Post said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Explained: Does Trump Have Power To Ban Mail-In Ballots In US Elections?
US President Donald Trump wants to ban mail-in ballots in federal elections, a form of voting popular with many Americans. About three in 10 ballots were cast through the mail in the 2024 general election, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. Trump, a Republican, does not have clear legal authority to do this, though his allies in Congress and state governments could enact policies barring the practice. Here is a look at Trump's authority and how the law could be changed. Can Trump unilaterally ban mail-in ballots? Only states and the US Congress can pass laws regulating elections. A unilateral ban by the president on mail-in ballots would likely exceed Trump's limited authority to enforce existing law. In a Monday social media post, Trump said mail-in ballots are susceptible to fraud and that he would lead a movement to ban them, beginning with an executive order bringing "honesty" to the November 2026 midterm elections. Republicans have filed scores of lawsuits seeking to end mail-in voting in recent years, citing possible fraud. Democrats generally support mail-in ballots as a way to expand access to voting. Voter fraud in the US is extremely rare, multiple studies have shown. White House representatives provided a general statement about Trump's election policies but did not answer questions about his legal authority to ban mail-in ballots or what an executive order would say. Could Trump's allies ban mail-in ballots? States are responsible for administering their votes under the US Constitution, and Republican-controlled legislatures could pass laws banning mail-in ballots so long as they do not conflict with federal law. Congress could ban the use of mail-in ballots in federal elections and override state laws protecting their use, but Trump's Republican Party has slim majorities in Congress and would face difficulty getting past opposition by Democrats. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats. To pass a mail-in ballot ban they would need to end the filibuster, a longstanding tradition requiring 60 of the chamber's 100 members to approve most legislation. State and federal laws banning mail-in voting could be challenged in court as unconstitutional impediments to voting. What other powers do presidents have over elections? Presidents in the US have some discretion in enforcing election laws, and Trump could try to use those powers to end or restrict mail-in voting, though it is unclear how. In June, a federal judge blocked parts of an executive order by Trump requiring voters to prove they are US citizens and attempting to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The Trump administration is appealing. "The Constitution does not grant the president any specific powers over elections," said US District Judge Denise Casper, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Gavin's tit-for-tat move: Proposes special election to counter Texas redistricting; sparks GOP outrage
Gavin Newsom (AP) In retaliation to Republican-led redistricting in Texas, California governor Gavin Newsom has urged the legislature to authorise a November special election aimed at approving a new congressional map, a move critics say undermines independent redistricting, reported news agency AP. Dubbed the Election Rigging Response Act, the measure would temporarily override the citizens redistricting commission - California's independent, voter-approved body, and return power to the Democratic-controlled Legislature to redraw congressional districts. The proposed map is designed to add five Democratic seats if GOP states such as Texas redraw theirs mid-decade. Newsom said the move is necessary to "fight back" against 'Trump-driven' partisan gerrymandering. Republican leaders wasted no time in condemning the proposal, Representative Doug LaMalfa fumed that the plan was 'an absolutely ridiculous gerrymander!', sarcastically noting that under the plan, his rural district would stretch all the way to Marin County. The California GOP labelled it a 'MASTERCLASS IN CORRUPTION'. While Representative Christian Martinez, on behalf of the NRCC, branded Newsom's initiative as 'a giant middle finger to every Californian,' as quoted by the agency. Not all critics are from the right. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Republican governor and architect of California's independent redistricting commission, denounced the move, arguing that restoring partisan control over map drawing violates both reform ideals and democratic norms. Republicans have already filed a legal challenge with the state Supreme Court, claiming that the proposal violates the state constitution and lacks adequate public scrutiny. However, legal experts from UCLA and Loyola law schools suggest that the Legislature can legally propose constitutional amendments and that federal law does not prohibit mid-decade redistricting. Gavin Newsom's redistricting gambit has ignited fierce partisan backlash and renewed debate over democratic process versus political expediency. Whether California voters support this high-stakes countermeasure in November could reshape both state and national power dynamics, and perhaps shed light on the future of reform in electoral mapping.
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
'Roof Over My Head...': Elon Musk's Ex Ashley Says She Has No Money, Launches Podcast
Ashley St. Clair, mother of Elon Musk's son Romulus, said that she is financial difficulties amid a custody dispute with the Tesla CEO. Ashley St. Clair, the mother of Elon Musk's one-year-old son Romulus, said she is facing severe financial difficulties as she launched a new podcast. The 26-year-old conservative commentator is currently locked in a custody dispute with the Tesla boss. Despite reports that Elon Musk has provided substantial financial support, Ashley St. Clair said she is struggling to stay afloat. 'Well, after a year of unplanned career suicide, many questionable life choices and a gap in my LinkedIn profile that cannot be legally explained, I've decided to start a podcast," she said in the opening episode of her podcast 'Bad Advice'. She joked about her circumstances, saying, 'Also, I'm getting evicted, and Polymarket offered me $10,000 to do an ad read. So with that, the roof over my head has been brought to you by Polymarket." Elon Musk vs Ashley Over Child Support The influencer earlier alleged that Elon Musk initially offered her $15 million upfront and $100,000 a month in child support if she kept their son's birth secret. She rejected the proposal, saying it did not provide adequate protections for the child and instead filed for custody and financial support through the courts. Her legal team claims Elon Musk subsequently cut monthly payments- from $100,000 to $40,000 and later to $20,000. Elon Musk has disputed that version of events, saying earlier this year, 'I don't know if the child is mine or not. Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year." A paternity test later confirmed with 99.9999% probability that Elon Musk is Romulus's father, according to a report seen by the Wall Street Journal. Romulus, Elon Musk's 13th child, was born in September 2024. Ashley St. Clair went public with the news on Valentine's Day this year, saying she had done so after becoming aware the tabloid press intended to reveal it. Elon Musk and Ashley first connected in May 2023, when the tech boss responded to one of her memes with a laughing emoji. They met later that month during an interview between Elon Musk and Seth Dillon, chief executive of satire site Babylon Bee, where Ashley St. Clair worked. First Published: August 19, 2025, 21:10 IST Latest News Delhi: Activists demand release of street dogs, oppose shifting them to shelters Agency feeds Agency feeds Police recover four crude bombs from Patna hostel, 4 arrested Agency feeds No new COVID-19 case reported in Maharashtra Agency feeds Mother of two killed in lightning strike in Jharkhand Agency feeds Bareilly tense after villagers oppose dargah procession latest news
