HHS Terminates Over $330 Million in DEI and Gender-Related Grants in California
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revoked more than $330 million in grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender studies in California. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated, “HHS terminated more than $330 million in research funding to organizations in California that is not aligned with NIH and HHS priorities.” This action aligns with the goal to “Make America Healthy Again” by prioritizing research that directly benefits American health.
The revoked grants were primarily allocated to California public universities, private colleges, and research institutes. The types of research impacted included various initiatives, such as:
- A $5 million grant for HIV prevention through text messaging
- A $3.6 million grant to Stanford University studying hormone effects on transgender adolescents
- A $1.3 million grant for a transgender boys’ teen pregnancy prevention program
- A $2.5 million grant at UCSF examining structural racism in older men’s health
- An $800,000 grant at UCLA studying Buddhism and HIV stigma in Thailand
In total, 61 NIH research grants related to DEI and gender in California were terminated.
This action follows President Donald Trump’s executive orders to remove DEI elements from federal systems, replacing them with a merit-based model. HHS has stated its intention to comply with these orders, cutting additional NIH grants nationwide related to DEI and gender topics.
Policy Shift and Its Implications
The cancellation of these grants reflects a significant policy shift initiated during President Donald Trump’s tenure. His executive orders aimed to eradicate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from federal frameworks and realign priorities to a merit-based approach. This directive sought to pivot the federal landscape back to foundations perceived as traditional and meritocratic.
Trump’s executive orders framed DEI as potentially infringing upon merit-based opportunities, suggesting a misalignment with primary health concerns of the American populace. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s HHS actions reinforce adherence to these mandates, reshaping government research priorities to focus on core health concerns reflective of the nation’s majority.
This recalibration emphasizes prioritizing research that directly affects the health of Americans, signaling a sharpened focus on mainstream health challenges. The terminated grants, including those addressing HIV stigma, gender transitions, and racial health inequities, now reflect a past focus, yielding to this new paradigm.
"As we begin to Make America Healthy Again, it's important to prioritize research that directly affects the health of Americans." – HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon
This pivot echoes a constitutionalist view of governmental function, emphasizing traditional pathways and perceived core needs. As the federal landscape continues to adjust to these mandates, the future of health research could see a significant narrowing in focus and funding, reflecting a return to foundational principles as seen through a conservative lens.
The Implications for California’s Research Community
The revocation of over $330 million in federal grants for diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and gender studies research presents challenges to California’s research landscape. This change impacts academic institutions, public health initiatives, and the broader research community.
Short-term effects include:
- Jeopardized continuation of ongoing research projects
- Potential workforce reductions, particularly affecting research assistants and post-docs
- Possible service reductions in public health programs addressing systemic health inequities
Strategically, research institutions may need to adjust their agendas to align with shifting federal priorities. This could lead to an increase in medical and clinical studies emphasizing typical American health concerns, potentially at the cost of limiting exploration into emerging or niche areas.
How might California’s research community adapt to this altered financial landscape? Will we see a push for alternative funding sources or a recalibration of research priorities? The coming months will reveal the resilience of these academic and public health entities as they navigate this significant shift in research funding paradigms.
As we consider these changes, it’s worth reflecting on how they align with our constitutional principles and the vision of our founding fathers. Are these shifts a return to a more focused, efficient approach to health research, or do they risk overlooking important areas of study? How can we ensure that our research priorities serve the needs of all Americans while staying true to our constitutional values?
- Fox News Digital. HHS axes more than $300M in gender, DEI-related health grants to California alone. Fox News. 2023.