DOGE cuts mucho dinero from US African Development Foundation

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been sniffing out some serious government waste, and they're not afraid to take a bite out of it. In their latest announcement on X, DOGE revealed they've slashed $51 million from the U.S. African Development Foundation's budget, and the details are juicier than a pineapple in Benin.

Apparently, our tax dollars were being used to fund some real head-scratchers, like $229,296 to market "100% organic shea butter in Burkina Faso" and $239,738 for "marketing pineapple juice in Benin." 

I mean, I love a good smoothie as much as the next guy, but I'm not sure why American taxpayers need to foot the bill for it. And don't get me started on the $246,217 spent on "mango drying facilities in the Ivory Coast" – sounds like a real tropical boondoggle.

But wait, there's more! There's always more.

DOGE also uncovered $99,566 spent on "increasing yogurt production in Uganda," $84,059 for "a business incubator for spa and wellness entrepreneurs in Nigeria," $50,000 to "train farmers how to grow dragon fruit in Senegal," and $48,406 for "a WhatsApp marketing chatbot in Kenya." 

I don't know about you, but I feel so much better knowing my hard-earned money is going toward dragon fruit and WhatsApp bots.

Led by Elon Musk, DOGE is a temporary White House group created by executive order earlier this year. President Trump gave them 18 months to whip the federal government into shape, and they're clearly not messing around. Just last month, they axed 113 contracts worth a cool $4.7 billion, including a $145,000 USDA consulting gig for "Peru climate change activities." 

Adios, amigos!

But the cuts didn't stop there – DOGE also nixed $10 million for "gender equity in the Mexican workplace," $12.2 million for "worker empowerment in South America," and $6.25 million for "improving respect for workers' rights in agricultural supply chains" in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Oh, and they've been busy canceling DEI initiatives, consulting contracts, leases for empty federal buildings, and redundant agencies left and right.

As of Monday, DOGE is claiming they've saved us $140 billion – that's about $870 per taxpayer. Not too shabby for a group that's only been around for a few months. Keep sniffing out that waste, DOGE – we salute you! And keep protesting the DOGE's efforts to eliminate waste and fraud--the GOP appreciates your willingness to lose the trust of the normal American people.

"I pour my heart into these posts, and if they’ve sparked something for you, I’d be thrilled if you’d treat me to a coffee over at Buy Me a Coffee – totally optional, of course!"

Tweet

Netanyahu on wall: "A great idea"

"La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froide" (translation. "Revenge is a dish best served cold")  Pierre Choderlos,  Les Liaisons Dangereuses, 1782.

President Obama is gone from power. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still here. The two men probably didn't like each other very much, but Bibi was simply following Obama's anti-Zionist lead.

On Saturday, Netanyahu expressed his clear support for our current President Trump's plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bibi, as his Israeli supporters fondly call him, said the barrier he had built along Israel's southern border "stopped all illegal immigration" and was a "great idea."

So sit on it, Obama.

President Trump signed executive orders on Wednesday to begin construction of a continuous "physical" wall, being one of the few leaders in history to make good on a campaign promise, which was to keep out illegal immigrants from Mexico, particularly "rapists" and drug dealers.

I think he also meant murderers and other felons, but people nowadays have shorter attention spans.

"Beginning today, the United States of America gets back control of its borders. We are going to save lives on both sides of the border," Trump said.

And while Mexico is still refusing to pay for the wall, while Trump said it would, he's still going ahead on the promise.

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto responded quickly Wednesday to Trump's declaration. He told his nation, in a national television address that he regrets and rejects Trump's decision, and he is canceling a meeting he was to have with Mr. Trump on Tuesday.

There are a number of cost projections for the wall that range from $8 million to $20 million. If I know government spending like I think I do, my guess is that a wall will cost around $35 million or more, just because it always almost doubles in price when the government is involved. 

But Trump's administration and leadership is no ordinary government. Who knows what price lurks in the heart of the project?  In any case, Congress is running around trying to come up with the money.

Trump also wants to hire another 5,000 border patrol agents and 10,000 more immigration officers. These increases must first be approved by Congress however.

Taking to Twitter, a la Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted: "President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea."

The difference is, however, Israel paid for their wall, which was finished in 2013 after two years of construction.

But the actual West Bank barrier is not the same wall. That wall was built to end terror attacks and stem the flow of illegal immigrants from Africa coming through Egypt. They were mostly from Sudan, Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Nigeria. They came seeking asylum and employment.

Israel's walls work. Trump's walls should also work.


Tweet