Written by Luke Patterson.

The Department of Government Efficiency—DOGE—dropped a bombshell this week, February 26, 2025, yanking millions in taxpayer cash from overseas projects that sound like they were cooked up in a grad student’s fever dream. Think Uganda “social change” experiments and Colombia “responsible behavior” lessons—gone. They’re touting $65 billion saved so far, and it’s about time someone asked why we were bankrolling this stuff in the first place.

The Chopped-Up Cash Grab

DOGE laid it out plain: $42 million was headed to Johns Hopkins to poke around in Uganda’s social habits—some vague “behavior change” gig. Then there’s $25 million for Colombia to nudge folks into “socially responsible” living, tied to biodiversity and legal jobs—whatever that means. Bigger ticket? A jaw-dropping $520 million for some consultant to mess with ESG—Environmental, Social, Governance—investments in Africa, roping in private sector suits. That’s half a billion, folks, for a suit with a PowerPoint.

It doesn’t stop. They had $40 million queued up to “include” sedentary migrants—where, how, who knows—and $69 million for the Eurasia Foundation to digitize Europe’s whatever. Smaller fry too: $32 million to Internews for Moldova media democracy jazz, $7 million to the American Bar Association for Eurasian legal “resilience”—because that’s a thing—and $45 million to prop up activists in “nonviolent collective action.” Oh, and $52 million straight to the World Economic Forum—yeah, the Davos crowd. DOGE said nope, axed it all.

That $65 billion figure they’re bragging about? It’s a mash-up—canceled grants, ditched contracts, sold-off assets, you name it. They’ve got a leaderboard online, updated twice a week like it’s a sports ticker. Education’s winning—big savings there—then GSA and EPA. State Department’s dead last, barely scraping a dime, with NIH and DOT not far ahead. It’s a public shaming, and it’s working.

What Were They Thinking?

Let’s chew on this Uganda deal—$42 million to tweak how people act? That’s a small city’s budget, and for what—better handshakes? Colombia’s $25 million “responsible behavior” bit smells like a eco-hippie lecture hall fantasy—biodiversity’s great, but my tax bucks for it? And that $520 million Africa ESG haul—half a billion to a consultant when rural U.S. bridges are rusting out? Come on. It’s not even clever waste—it’s lazy.

Picture this: $40 million for migrants who don’t move much—nobody’s saying where they’re at or why we care. Europe’s $69 million digital upgrade—Europe’s got the EU, folks, they’re fine. Moldova’s media push—$32 million—I’ve been there; it’s tiny, and democracy’s not a check you write. The ABA’s $7 million legal pep talk? Laughable. And $45 million for activists—define “collective action,” please. The WEF’s $52 million cherry on top? That’s a taxpayer-funded ski trip for billionaires.

DOGE’s point hits hard: this isn’t our job. That $65 billion’s real—web stats show U.S. foreign aid’s been $50 billion a year lately, so this is a year’s worth, yanked back. Look at Britain—they slashed aid 30 percent in 2021 to fix home turf. We’re late to that party, but DOGE’s crashing it now.

A Wake-Up Call for Spending

This isn’t just pocket change. Uganda’s $42 million could’ve wired 15,000 U.S. homes with broadband—real need, real impact. Colombia’s $25 million? That’s 500 new cops in a rough city here. The $520 million Africa gig—imagine that on Midwest flood walls or Texas grid fixes. Instead, it was headed for some consultant’s yacht payment. DOGE’s kill list shows a government drunk on grand ideas—$69 million for Europe’s tech when Appalachia’s offline? Nuts.

Global lens helps. Japan keeps aid tight—$10 billion yearly, laser-focused on trade partners. We’re at $50 billion, spraying it like confetti. DOGE’s $65 billion haul—grants killed, leases dumped, staff trimmed—beats Japan’s annual cut in months. Moldova’s $32 million media dream—that’s half what U.S. community colleges lose yearly to budget cuts. The WEF’s $52 million? Could’ve saved 20 rural hospitals stateside—actual lives, not conference swag.

The leaderboard’s a kicker. Education’s shedding bloat—good. State’s barely trying—diplomacy’s a cash sink. NIH and DOT lagging? They’re hoarding, and DOGE knows it. This isn’t over—$65 billion’s a start, but the feds blow $6 trillion a year. It’s a pebble in a quarry, yet it’s rattling cages.

Our Take

DOGE’s slashing these overseas flops is a breath of fresh air—$65 billion back from the void’s a solid win. Uganda’s behavior tweak and Colombia’s green manners? Wasteful nonsense—canned righteously. That $520 million Africa consultant scam—good riddance; it’s the kind of excess that makes you mad enough to spit. The leaderboard’s a genius jab—name and shame works.

Still, it’s a Band-Aid on a busted dam. State’s low score screams untouchable bloat—fix that next. And $65 billion against $6 trillion? We’re nibbling edges. DOGE’s onto something—taxpayers deserve bang, not boondoggles—but they’ve got to swing harder. This is a start; don’t stop now.