DOGE terminates billions in contracts, including $361K for 'gender non-conforming, non-binary' BIPOC farmers
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the termination of billions in government contracts, including $2.5 billion in grants deemed wasteful by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). These eliminations included a $361,000 grant aimed at supporting 'gender non-conforming, non-binary, two-spirit' BIPOC farmers in New York, as well as a $150,000 grant for gender-lensed educational curricula. Other international beneficiaries, like Ghana, received $100,000 for climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, DOGE has eliminated 179 contracts, resulting in a savings of $280 million, and highlighted further spending on various consultancy and advisory contracts. These cuts are part of broader efforts under the Trump administration to reduce government spending and increase efficiency, with Elon Musk playing a key advisory role in these initiatives.
DOGE has terminated $2.5 billion in grants from the USDA, focusing on projects related to gender-based causes, as part of an effort to reduce perceived government waste.
A significant portion of the terminated grants included $361,000 allocated for 'gender non-conforming, non-binary, two-spirit' BIPOC farmers in New York, reflecting the targeted nature of these cuts.
Additional funding cuts included $150,000 for gender-lensed curricula in food and agriculture sciences, indicating a broader focus on removing spending tied to specific social issues.
International projects were also affected, with Ghana losing $100,000 in funding for climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, showing the global reach of these budget reductions.
The overall contract eliminations, including 179 contracts with a ceiling value of $1.87 billion, resulted in savings of $280 million, highlighting the scale of fiscal tightening.
The federal government further scrutinized spending on consultancy contracts, such as a $207,000 workshop grant and an $89,000 project management role in Namibia, as part of the efficiency drive.
These actions align with the Trump administration's agenda to streamline government operations, with Elon Musk advising on the initiative to identify and cut down on inefficient spending.