AG Pam Bondi Unveils ‘Greatest Hits’ as DOGE Slashes Grants, Cuts $250K for Trans Inmate Care

Attorney General Pam Bondi is making headlines again, this time for her so-called "greatest hits" of government waste reduction. On Wednesday, Bondi announced that the Justice Department is slicing millions from what she calls wasteful federal grants.

Among the most eyebrow-raising cuts: $2 million previously set aside for "national listening sessions of individuals with lived experience." That's a lot of listening, but apparently not enough to justify the price tag. Another $695,000 meant for a complicated study on the effectiveness of police departments' LGBTQ liaison services is also getting the axe.

But the one that's really grabbing attention is the $250,000 grant dedicated to working with incarcerated transgender individuals, specifically for providing gender-affirming care and housing in gender-appropriate facilities. Clearly, the Justice Department is tightening its belt—though some might say the scissors are getting a workout.

Bondi teased that the cuts aren't over yet, promising "More to come" on her X account. She's definitely not one for subtlety.

All these moves are part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s broader campaign to eliminate wasteful spending and shrink the federal government's reach. If you thought Texas was going to miss out, think again—a bill is on its way there to launch a Lone Star version of DOGE.

The Justice Department isn't alone in cutting back. Last week, DOGE and the U.S. National Science Foundation teamed up to cancel 402 grants labeled as "wasteful," including $1 million for "Antiracist Teacher Leadership for Statewide Transformation." All told, that's about $233 million in savings—not exactly pocket change.

The National Science Foundation put it bluntly: "Today, NSF announced it is terminating awards not aligned with agency priorities, ensuring current & new awards are consistent with our mission." In other words, it's spring cleaning season for government grants, and no corner is too dusty to escape notice.