USDA Cancels $600,000 Grant Over Mischaracterization of Trans-Inclusive Menstrual Study

The grant, intended to research menstrual product safety, was rescinded after pressure from a conservative group and misrepresentation of its focus.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) canceled a $600,000 research grant awarded to Southern University in Louisiana, citing concerns over its focus on transgender individuals and alignment with administration policies.
The grant aimed to study the health risks of synthetic menstrual products and promote sustainable alternatives, with a brief mention of inclusivity for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals who menstruate.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation on X (formerly Twitter) after a right-wing organization, the American Principles Project, flagged the grant as promoting 'radical gender ideology.'
The USDA stated that the grant's educational component, which acknowledged trans men and nonbinary individuals, did not align with the Trump administration's official stance on sex and gender.
Critics have raised concerns about the politicization of scientific research and the broader implications of the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) cost-cutting measures under the Trump administration.