US aid freeze hits Tibetan govt-in-exile

Parliamentarians attending the 17th budget session of Tibetan govt-in-exile face an impossible calculation - that of reconciling their annual budget with the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) targets. The proposed budget of Rs 367.5 crore for 2025-26 is set to be cut as a substantial portion of Tibetan govt-in-exile's funding has been stopped by the US following president Trump's drive to cut "wasteful expenditure". The US contributes 40% to 50% of the annual budget of Central Tibetan Administration. Almost half of the funds from US used to be routed through USAID, which Trump administration aims to disband. CTA president Penpa Tsering said cuts would be made across various depts to compensate for funding shortfall.