DOGE cuts $600,000 SU grant studying transgender menstrual cycles

The Trump administration has terminated a $600,000 federal grant awarded to Southern University Agricultural & Mechanical College in Louisiana, which was intended to fund a study on menstrual cycles in transgender men and other gender-diverse individuals. The decision, announced Friday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, marks a shift in federal funding priorities under President Donald Trump’s leadership.

According to records on USAspending.gov, the grant was initially awarded during the Biden administration and was slated to remain active through April 2027. The study aimed to explore menstruation patterns and address “growing concerns” about feminine hygiene, including the potential use of natural fibers like hemp in menstrual products. The grant description highlighted that menstruation affects not only women but also “transgender men, intersex, and non-binary persons,” noting that approximately 26% of the global population is menstruating at any given time.

“A woman will have a monthly menstrual cycle for about 40 years of her life, averaging about 450 periods over the course of her lifetime,” the grant description read, detailing how menstruation typically begins around age 12 and ends with menopause at approximately 51. It emphasized the need for inclusive research to reflect the diversity of those who experience menstruation.

The cancellation follows criticism from the American Principles Project, a conservative nonprofit that has flagged over 340 grants totaling more than $128 million issued under the previous administration. The group has accused such funding of supporting what it calls wasteful or ideologically driven projects, with the Southern University grant among those singled out.

In a post on X, Secretary Rollins denounced the study as “insanity” and signaled that the Trump administration is actively reviewing and axing similar initiatives. “The restoration of the United States is underway,” she wrote, framing the cancellation as part of a broader effort to redirect federal resources.

Southern University officials have not yet commented on the decision or its potential impact on their research programs. The move has reignited debates over federal funding for gender-related studies, with critics of the cancellation arguing it stifles scientific inquiry, while supporters applaud it as a return to fiscal and cultural pragmatism.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a key player in the Trump administration’s cost-cutting agenda, is believed to have influenced the decision, though specific details of its involvement remain unclear. As the administration continues to scrutinize existing grants, more cancellations may be on the horizon.