Why Musk’s DOGE is now going after National Endowment for Democracy

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team was born out of billionaire Elon Musk’s frustration with the inefficiencies, secrecy, and lack of accountability in US-funded operations. A serial disruptor with a track record of transforming industries such as automotive and space, Musk has consistently criticised the wasteful spending and lack of transparency in government agencies. His ambitious goal to bring corporate-level efficiency to the public sector led to the creation of the DOGE initiative—a team focused on auditing, reforming, and, where necessary, eliminating ineffective and corrupt government organisations.

The DOGE team’s first major target was the US Agency for International Development (USAID), an organisation criticised for its overspending and politically motivated foreign aid projects. By leveraging data-driven strategies, DOGE exposed wasteful operations at USAID, forcing a reevaluation of its funding and structure. After this initial success, the DOGE team shifted its focus to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)—a major player in promoting democracy abroad but also one of the most controversial US government-funded bodies due to its political overtones and potential role in destabilising foreign governments.

More from Opinion

Sergio Gor’s senate hearing signals the future of Indo-American ties How Trump’s ‘War on Drugs’ buildup against Venezuela has a hidden agenda

The National Endowment for Democracy: A Trojan Horse for US Interests?

Founded in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan, the NED’s mission was to promote democracy, human rights, and civil society across the globe. On paper, this seems like a noble cause, but critics argue that the NED often operates as a proxy for US foreign policy, supporting groups and movements that align with American economic and geopolitical interests. The NED has been involved in controversial activities, such as funding opposition movements in countries like Venezuela, Iran, Ukraine, and Taiwan, and its backing has been linked to regime-change efforts and political destabilisation.

While its supporters argue that the NED is a crucial tool in promoting democratic ideals, the institution has become a target for those who believe it has strayed far from its original mission and instead promotes American imperialism under the guise of democracy. For Musk and the DOGE team, the NED is a prime example of government inefficiency and political meddling, and it is this very interventionism that has put the institution in the spotlight.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

How army remains Pakistan’s biggest business house

60 years on, why 1965 India–Pakistan war still matters

In countries like Iran, Venezuela, and Ukraine, the NED’s interventions have sparked accusations of meddling in domestic politics, exacerbating conflicts, and even contributing to regime changes. In Taiwan, its support for pro-democracy movements has intensified tensions with China, while in Libya and Egypt, NED-backed groups played pivotal roles in uprisings that led to political chaos and interventionist wars. Similarly, its backing of opposition groups in Nicaragua and Honduras has fuelled instability, especially after US-backed coups or political upheavals. In these cases, the NED’s influence is seen less as promoting democracy and more as pursuing a US-centric geopolitical agenda, often at the cost of sovereignty and peace in these nations.

The DOGE Team’s Bold Move: Freezing NED’s Funding

This week, the DOGE team made its most audacious move yet: freezing the funding allocated to the NED. This bold decision sends a powerful message to Washington that an institution once seen as a bipartisan tool for spreading democracy is no longer beyond scrutiny. The DOGE team’s move to freeze the NED’s funding is an unprecedented action that challenges the assumptions underpinning US foreign policy.

The decision was grounded in Musk’s belief that taxpayer money should not be spent on foreign operations that destabilise countries and undermine their sovereignty. By freezing the NED’s funding, DOGE has exposed the lack of accountability within the organisation, which has received billions in taxpayer dollars over the decades without clear oversight. According to Musk and the DOGE team, the NED has been involved in activities that have caused more harm than good—fuelling conflict, supporting opposition movements that destabilise governments, and exacerbating geopolitical tensions.

A New Vision for US Foreign Policy: Transparency and Efficiency

At the core of the DOGE team’s philosophy is a belief in transparency and decentralisation. Musk, known for his push toward open-source solutions in his other ventures, believes that government entities like the NED operate in the shadows, making decisions that affect millions without adequate public scrutiny. The DOGE team’s strategy has been to leverage new technologies and data analytics to hold these institutions accountable.

With its focus on transparency, the DOGE team has called for the full disclosure of how NED funds are allocated and spent. They have also advocated for a more efficient approach to US foreign policy—one that prioritises diplomacy and collaboration over covert interventions and regime-change operations. Musk has suggested that the resources currently channelled into organisations like the NED should be redirected toward initiatives that foster genuine development and democracy, not just the geopolitical interests of the US.

Cleaning Up the NED: A Call for Reformation

Musk’s DOGE team is not only focused on dismantling the NED, but it is also advocating for broader reforms in the way the US government interacts with the world. The team’s ultimate objective is to establish a more efficient, transparent, and accountable US foreign policy framework—one that does not prioritise the political and economic interests of the US at the expense of other nations’ sovereignty.

DOGE’s strategy is clear: reform government institutions from the inside out. Instead of simply calling for the defunding of the NED, Musk and his team want to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that US foreign policy promotes peace, stability, and mutual cooperation, rather than sowing the seeds of division and conflict.

A Shift in Activism: Digital Tools for Real-World Change

The DOGE team’s approach represents a shift in how activism is carried out in the digital age. Using digital tools, data analysis, and social media influence, the team is mobilising people to demand accountability and challenge the inefficiencies of government institutions. This new form of activism is rooted in the belief that power should be decentralised and that citizens should have more control over how their tax dollars are spent.

Musk’s efforts to clean up government institutions like the NED may seem like an uphill battle, but his track record of disrupting entrenched industries shows that the fight is far from over. The DOGE team is pushing the conversation about government accountability and the role of US foreign policy in shaping global outcomes. Whether or not the NED is completely “zeroed out”, the momentum for reform is clear.

The Future of the NED: A Path Toward Reform or Collapse?

The NED’s future is now uncertain, and the pressure for reform continues to grow. As the DOGE team’s influence expands, it is clear that the debate over the role of US institutions in foreign affairs is far from settled. Musk’s leadership of the DOGE initiative has given rise to a new movement—one that seeks to fundamentally reshape how the US government operates, both domestically and abroad.

The fight to hold the NED accountable is just the beginning. The DOGE team’s campaign for greater efficiency, transparency, and decentralisation has sparked a wider conversation about the future of US foreign policy. As more attention is drawn to the flaws and excesses of government institutions like the NED, it remains to be seen how much change is possible.

Selena Green is a feminist advocate and human rights activist with eight years of experience as a coordinator of various human rights organisations. Mahesh Ranjan Debata teaches at the Centre for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The views expressed are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost views.