Agriculture Secretary Cancels $600K Grant for Study on Menstrual Cycles in Transgender Men

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has pulled the plug on a $600,000 grant earmarked for studying menstrual cycles in transgender men, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on Friday.

The grant, initially awarded to the Southern University Agricultural & Mechanical College in Louisiana, was listed on the federal spending database USAspending.gov. Its description delved into the biology of menstruation, stating, "The first occurrence of menstruation occurs at approximately 12 years of age and ends with menopause at roughly 51 years of age. A woman will have a monthly menstrual cycle for about 40 years of her life, averaging to about 450 periods over the course of her lifetime."

But here's the twist: the project also sought to include transgender men and other individuals, such as intersex and non-binary people, who may experience menstruation. The grant's description emphasized that "about 26% of the world’s population is menstruating at any given moment." That’s a statistic you don’t hear every day.

The study aimed to tackle "growing concerns" about menstruation, including exploring the use of natural fibers like hemp in feminine hygiene products. The grant was set to run until April 2027, but Rollins pulled the brakes prematurely.

The conservative nonprofit American Principles Project first flagged the grant, along with over 340 other federally funded initiatives totaling more than $128 million during the Biden administration. These grants were distributed to a variety of institutions, including colleges and hospitals.

Rollins took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm the cancellation, stating, "CANCELLED: $600,000 grant to study 'menstrual cycles in transgender men.'" She also thanked the American Principles Project for their tip-off, adding, "The insanity is ending and the restoration of America is underway." Hyperbolic much?