Government Agency Cancels Controversial Grants
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has revealed that it is putting an end to several grants initiated during the Biden administration, which were directed towards what some consider unconventional and unproductive projects, such as research into LGBTQ+ cartoonists and travel guides.
DOGE shared on social media that these cancellations have totaled $163 million in savings, citing that the National Humanities Fund (NEH) had previously awarded various grants using taxpayer funds that are now being revoked.
One notable example includes a $350,000 grant intended for “an interactive gay travel guide to better understand historic LGBTQ+ spaces.” Another grant, worth $247,000, was aimed at “digitizing the narratives of transgender adults in the Pacific Northwest.”
Additionally, a $60,000 grant was meant for researching how LGBTQ+ cartoonists influenced comics during the 1980s and 1990s, while $75,000 was set aside to “examine the relationship between internet live streaming and the LGBTQ+ community.”
Interestingly, not all the grants were focused on LGBTQ+ topics. A different $150,000 grant sought to explore Egypt’s first industrial-scale brewery. Furthermore, a $350,000 grant aimed to create a Spanish version of a specific online resource.
“NEH grants are merit-based and awarded to non-DEI, pro-American causes,” DOGE confirmed.
A total savings of around $170 billion has been reported, which breaks down to approximately $1,055.90 for each U.S. taxpayer. This figure is derived from a mix of contract terminations, grant cancellations, labor reductions, and other efficiencies.
According to DOGE’s rankings, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has emerged as the top division for generating savings, followed by the General Services Agency (GSA) and the Department of Education. In contrast, the Department of Veterans Affairs, NASA, and the Department of Transport have recorded the least savings.
