The Trump administration is delivering on promises to slash “woke” government spending, with HHS canceling over $350 million in diversity, equity, and inclusion research grants. This massive funding cut affects hundreds of projects deemed unrelated to improving Americans’ health. The decision was made by former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., proving just how poisonous Woke ideology is to liberals now.
At a glance:
• HHS has cut more than $350 million in NIH research grants related to DEI and gender ideology
• Over 500 research projects were terminated, including studies on “structural racism” and transgender hormone therapy in mice
• The cuts align with President Trump’s Executive Order banning DEI programs across the federal government
• A $1 million grant studying structural racism at University of Maryland-Baltimore was among those eliminated
• HHS spokesperson stated the funding will be redirected to research that “directly affects the health of Americans”
Trump Administration Prioritizes Health Over Ideology
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated over $350 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender ideology. This move cancels more than 500 research projects that were deemed wasteful and not aligned with the department’s health priorities.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon made it clear why these cuts were necessary for the American people. “The terminated research grants are simply wasteful in studying things that do not pertain to American’s health to any significant degree, including DEI and gender ideology,” he said.
Projects eliminated included a $1 million grant to the University of Maryland-Baltimore for studying structural racism and another $1 million to Emory University for research on transgender hormone treatments in mice. A $5 million grant to Vanderbilt University Medical Center aimed at increasing racial and ethnic diversity among scientific research faculty was also cut from the budget.
Making America Healthy Again
The HHS cuts align perfectly with President Trump’s broader directive to remove DEI and progressive gender ideology from public sector funding. Nixon emphasized that the department is focused on more important priorities, stating, “As we begin to Make America Healthy Again, it’s important to prioritize research that directly affects the health of Americans.”
These budget cuts are part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to reign in wasteful government spending on ideological projects. The administration has also imposed a 15% cap on facilities and administrative costs in research grant awards, ensuring more money goes directly to meaningful scientific work.
President Trump previously issued an Executive Order banning DEI across the federal government, arguing these programs violate civil rights laws. Additional cuts included $2.3 million for a virtual reality DEI program for soldiers and funding to USAID for leftist projects globally.
New Direction for Health Research
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Trump’s nominee for NIH director, faced questioning during his confirmation hearing about the controversial cuts. He has promised to “follow the law” while investigating the impact of these budget adjustments.
Bhattacharya described a vision for NIH that focuses on research directly benefiting health outcomes while embracing dissenting ideas and transparency.
The temporary freeze on new federal grants initially implemented by the Trump administration faced legal challenges and was eventually blocked by a judge. However, the administration has found other ways to redirect funding toward its healthcare priorities without violating court orders.
