Cancellations of NEH Grants Linked to LGBTQ+ and DEI Initiatives

Recent testimony has revealed that during the Trump administration, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) canceled numerous grants related to LGBTQ+ and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This action was part of a broader effort to eliminate federal spending associated with these topics, as outlined in executive orders from President Donald Trump.

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Nathan Cavanaugh, a former political appointee in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), testified that grants were flagged for cancellation based solely on the presence of terms like "LGBTQ" in their descriptions. Cavanaugh, alongside Justin Fox, reviewed spreadsheets of grants issued during President Joe Biden’s administration to identify those that conflicted with Trump's directives. Their lack of academic background raised questions about the appropriateness of their evaluations.

The Advocate

Fox noted that grants promoting LGBTQ studies or referencing gender fluidity were particularly scrutinized. He explained that such projects were often associated with underrepresented minority groups, which were targeted by the administration's policies. Specific examples of flagged projects included a public discussion series on LGBTQ military service and research on HIV activism, both of which were deemed problematic due to their focus on marginalized communities.

The Advocate

The review process also involved the use of artificial intelligence. Fox admitted to running grant descriptions through ChatGPT to determine their relevance to DEI, without providing a clear definition of the term for the AI. This led to numerous projects being flagged for cancellation based on their references to race, gender, or sexuality. The lawsuit indicates that over 1,400 active NEH grants, totaling more than $100 million, were terminated, effectively eliminating about 97 percent of the agency's active grants.

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Internal communications revealed concerns from Acting NEH Chair Michael McDonald, who warned that many cancellations lacked justification. However, he acknowledged that the final decisions were made by DOGE. The White House has not issued a comment regarding these allegations.

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The actions taken by the Trump administration have faced significant criticism from various academic and cultural organizations. The American Council of Learned Societies, the American Historical Association, and the Modern Language Association have filed a lawsuit arguing that the cancellations were unlawful and detrimental to scholarship on race, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues.

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• “Because it explicitly says LGBTQ,” — Nathan Cavanaugh, former DOGE staffer

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• “There was an executive order that said to eliminate [spending] on DEI and other wasteful government spending, and that was the lens,” — Justin Fox, former DOGE staffer

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This situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding federal funding for humanities projects that engage with diversity and inclusion themes, raising questions about the future of such initiatives under different administrations.

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