In a move that has stirred controversy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has started slashing funding for programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the Trump administration previously deemed too focused on diversity and inclusion.
The cuts, amounting to nearly $122 million, target grants connected to LGBT issues, racial equity, and other DEI initiatives.
Sweeping Cuts Target DEI and Research Programs
According to reports, 195 projects lost funding as Kennedy rolled back grants he considered overly focused on race or sexual orientation.
These changes have been ongoing since March and were coordinated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The measures have particularly affected university-led research initiatives.
High-Profile Grants Eliminated
One of the largest grants affected was a $5.5 million award from the National Cancer Institute to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The Vanderbilt FIRST initiative aimed to recruit at least 18 tenure-track faculty from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
Drexel University also lost more than $4.6 million for its project supporting early-career faculty dedicated to health disparities research.
Meanwhile, the University of Virginia saw a $2.4 million grant removed for a study on neurodevelopmental biomarkers in female and gender-diverse autism populations, part of a broader $12 million program announced in 2022.
The National Institute on Aging cut a $1.1 million grant for the University of Michigan, which had planned research to improve inclusivity in Alzheimer’s disease studies for Asian American and Latinx populations.
Widespread Impact and Silence from Recipients
The New York Post reached out to nearly a dozen affected grant recipients, but none responded to requests for comment.
These cuts come amid broader upheaval at HHS, including the firing of CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez.
Leadership Changes at the CDC
Kennedy appointed Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O’Neill as acting CDC director following Monarez’s dismissal.
O’Neill, known for his loyalty to Kennedy, has ties to the Peter Thiel Foundation and a Thiel fellowship for young entrepreneurs.
Despite protests from CDC staff, the White House supported Kennedy’s actions to tighten control over the agency.
Uncertain Future for HHS Funding
While the latest round of cuts occurred earlier this month, it remains unclear whether more funding reductions are on the horizon.
Kennedy’s approach signals a significant shift in priorities for HHS, particularly in programs addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion across research initiatives.
