DOE Defends Grant Terminations in Trump States Amid Unfounded Accusations of Political Bias
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The Department of Energy clarified in court filings that the cancellation of 284 federal research grants in states supporting President Trump in 2024 was not politically motivated, despite left-wing attempts to manufacture controversy.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has come under fire from left-wing activists after it acknowledged in a recent court filing that it cancelled 284 federal research grants following a standard Office of Management and Budget review. The grants, which happened to be located in states that voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election and had two Republican-caucusing senators, were selected for termination, but the DOE maintains that no political criteria were used.
Jeff Novak, the DOE’s principal deputy general counsel, made it clear that the decision was not based on any programmatic, statutory, cost-reduction, or performance-based factor. He further emphasized that the agency did not consider the political affiliation of downstream beneficiaries of the grant funds, refuting claims of partisan targeting.
Despite a lawsuit from University of California researchers—who are using the courts to push a political narrative—the DOE’s press secretary, Ben Dietderich, reiterated that the filings do not show any political motivation, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright firmly denied any political influence during a House Science Committee hearing.
The 284 cancelled grants are just a fraction of over 2,300 DOE financial assistance awards, with 624 marked for termination or cancellation. Of these, 340 grants proposed for termination were ultimately not cancelled, demonstrating the agency’s careful review process.
The Office of Management and Budget is also proposing a rule to give political appointees more authority to review and potentially terminate federal grants, a necessary step to ensure that taxpayer dollars are aligned with the priorities of the duly elected president and to improve oversight against waste and abuse.