A federal judge ruled on Thursday that the termination of hundreds of humanities grants last year by the Trump administration's so-called "department of government efficiency" (Doge) was unconstitutional and involved "blatant" discrimination. In April 2025, the Trump administration terminated more than 1,400 grants, representing over $100 million in congressionally appropriated funds awarded to scholars, writers, research institutions, and other humanities organizations. These terminations were part of a cost-cutting drive led by billionaire Elon Musk at Doge.
Judge's Ruling and Constitutional Violations
US District Judge Colleen McMahon condemned the actions, stating that "the Government engaged in blatant viewpoint discrimination." The judge ruled that the terminations violated the First Amendment's free speech rights and the Fifth Amendment's equal protection component. Additionally, the judge determined that Doge lacked the legal authority to terminate the grants. "What mattered to DOGE was not whether a grant lacked scholarly merit, failed to comply with its terms, or fell outside NEH's statutory purposes. What mattered was that the grant concerned a 'minority group'," the judge wrote. "DOGE swept in race and ethnicity – including grants concerning Black, Asian, Latino, and Indigenous communities – as well as national origin and immigration status; religion and religious identity (including Jewish, Christian, and Muslim subjects); sex; and sexual orientation, as criteria for grant termination."
Use of AI and Broader Implications
The judge also addressed Doge staff's use of the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to justify some terminations, stating that "the government cannot escape liability for DOGE's work by scapegoating ChatGPT." Rights advocates have raised concerns about Trump's attacks on educational and arts institutions, diversity initiatives, and historical places and museums, warning that these could undo decades of social progress and undermine acknowledgment of critical phases of American history. Trump has alleged that many cultural, arts, and educational institutions are bastions of liberalism and "anti-American" values, threatening to cut federal funding over issues such as pro-Palestinian protests, transgender policies, climate initiatives, and diversity programs. His targets have included elite universities, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center, and broadcasters like National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.
