Elon Musk Claims USAID Colombo of Crazy Waste

Elon Musk has criticized the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for allocating $7.9 million to train Sri Lankan journalists on avoiding "binary-gendered language." This initiative promotes gender inclusivity by encouraging the use of gender-neutral pronouns like "they/them" and replacing gendered job titles with neutral alternatives.

Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, calling the expenditure a "crazy waste of your tax money!" His criticism came with a breakdown of USAID’s spending, highlighting projects such as $20 million for a Sesame Street program in Iraq, $4.5 million to combat disinformation in Kazakhstan, and $6 million to reshape digital spaces to align with feminist democratic principles.

In Sri Lanka, figures like Namal Rajapaksa and Wimal Weerawansa have raised concerns about USAID's role. Rajapaksa questioned whether such a program should be a priority, while Weerawansa argued that USAID’s influence extends beyond development aid.

USAID has defended its programs, stating that gender-inclusive language fosters equitable and respectful communication. However, with growing scrutiny from various quarters, USAID Colombo may soon have to answer for its priorities back home.