Divya Delhi:  The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency in Trump 2.0 revealed that USAID funds clandestine subversive efforts, confirming a longstanding fear. Over the past 77 years, ostensibly benign "aid" has been exploited to erode unity, widen fault lines, and shape Indian economic activity to benefit the paying countries.The historical acceptance of aid as a "net good" in recipient countries, particularly India, indicates political capitulation disguised as humanitarian and developmental aid. Recent awareness in India of the consequences of such money has led to stricter compliance and enforcement of measures like the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010. The political and national security consequences of such help must always be considered: US aid alone totaled $750 million in the most recent fiscal year. If it's established that USAID, which is closing, spent $21 million (Rs 182 crore) to increase voter turnout, it should be taken seriously and investigated. Even for neutral purposes, foreign funds give foreign-controlled companies leverage and influence.The actions may seem related to the goal, but they are never neutral. The foreign country's interests and values influence the program's directors, narratives, and topics. That such action affects the democratic process and Indians' electoral choices is alarming and should never be tolerated.Some government sectors have made similar changes since Independence. USAID's decades-long partnership with the National Family Health Survey, which ended recently, gave a foreign government full access to medical data and unchecked influence on policies. USAID is not alone in such deception. Such foreign entities are often amorphous non-state actors whose ownership is hidden by various means.