The Trump administration is significantly reducing federal funding for various DEI initiatives and climate change projects in California.
In an effort to tackle perceived taxpayer waste, approximately $328 million in transportation funding for the state has been halted, along with over $300 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These figures were sourced from the Office of Management and Budget, as reported by the California Post.
Specific funding cuts include $876,000 aimed at research to lessen social isolation among older LGBTQ individuals, $1.1 million designated for the Los Angeles County National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, and $600,000 for Public Health Advocates, Inc., which focuses on racial and ethnic health initiatives.
Moreover, California’s clean energy sector faced substantial losses with the removal of millions designated for electric buses and charging infrastructure. Funding such as $14.3 million for installing EV chargers at equity-focused municipal sites in Santa Cruz, $77 million for acquiring 75 electric buses in West Hollywood, and $9.9 million for six electric buses intended for safer transportation in the City of Santa Rosa will no longer be available.
This decision follows closely on the heels of a memo from the Office of Management and Budget that called for a comprehensive examination of federal funding in 14 states led by Democrats, including Washington, D.C., to pinpoint any mismanagement or wasteful practices.
The memo indicated that this process was primarily a data-gathering initiative, stating it “does not involve withholding funds.”
