Trump Administration Cuts Millions in DEI Grants Amid DOGE Efficiency Drive

The Trump administration has taken aim at millions of dollars in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) grants as part of its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, designed to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending. In a bold move, $15 million in DEI grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is being axed, aligning with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump to purge DEI initiatives from federal programs.

The cuts include $6.7 million allocated to the California State Library for equitable library programs, $4 million for Washington State Library staff development and prisoner support programs, and $1.5 million intended for the Connecticut State Library system to embed social justice principles into daily operations. That’s not all: $700,000 earmarked for post-pandemic DEI strategies in children’s museums and $265,000 for Queens College to study why BIPOC teens read Japanese comics are also on the chopping block. Even Ohio’s $250,000 grant for erecting 10 LGBTQ+ historical markers won’t survive this efficiency push.

Acting IMLS Director Keith Sonderling stated, "In keeping with the vision of the President’s executive orders, we are taking action to end taxpayer funding for discriminatory DEI initiatives in our nation’s museums and libraries. Our cultural institutions should bring Americans together—not promote divisive ideologies." Sonderling’s words reflect the administration’s stance that taxpayer-funded programs should focus on unity rather than identity politics.

The IMLS has already scaled back operations, reportedly slashing 80% of its staff in a move that aims to save taxpayers millions. A study by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences shows federal funds account for just 0.3% of public libraries’ total operating revenue—a reminder that most library funding comes from state and local sources.

These cuts are part of a broader effort under Trump’s "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy" executive order, which targets seven government agencies. According to the DOGE website, these efficiency measures have saved taxpayers $140 billion—roughly $900 per taxpayer.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in DEI contracts have already been axed across various departments, including $100 million at the Department of Education. The administration is clear in its message: DEI initiatives, as they see it, are incompatible with the American Dream narrative of hard work and determination.