Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has saved millions in taxpayer dollars by eliminating foreign grants that duplicate efforts of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Breitbart News has exclusively learned. Just one week into her tenure, Chavez-DeRemer has already made significant budget cuts at the Department of Labor (DOL) by canceling tens of millions in grants meant to support labor policies in foreign nations.
Breitbart News has learned that the Labor Department previously allocated taxpayer funds to international programs. The cuts Chavez-DeRemer has made so far include:
- Cutting a $1.5 million grant aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry.
- Eliminating a $7 million grant for climate change policies and practices in Brazil, Chile, South Africa, and Colombia.
- Scrapping $18 million in grants promoting collective bargaining in Brazil, Colombia, Cote D’Ivoire, Indonesia, and Guatemala.
- Slashing a $1.5 million grant intended to improve workplace compliance standards in the country of Georgia.
Many of these grants mirror USAID programs, which have funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to foreign governments, NGOs, and other groups.
The decision to cut these grants aligns with Chavez-DeRemer’s commitment to eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. In her first-day memo to executive staff and agency heads, she directed a review of DOL budgets to identify “wasteful contract spending” and propose solutions to cut redundancies and remove underperforming employees.
“By adhering to the principles of fiscal responsibility and efficiency, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of Americans,” she wrote.
She further highlighted that, under President Trump’s directive, the Department of Labor has already saved taxpayers $125 million. Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that many canceled contracts contained diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and consulting, which she deemed unnecessary.
“Thank you for your dedication to our mission of Putting American Workers First as we work together on behalf of President Trump to usher in a new Golden Age of economic prosperity,” she wrote, expressing confidence in her team’s ability to drive further savings and efficiencies at the agency.
