On March 13, 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump’s administration, announced the cancellation of 239 federal contracts over two days, slashing a total “ceiling value” of $1.7 billion and claiming savings of $400 million, according to reports from BBC, CNN, NBC, Fox News, and other media outlets.
Among the terminated agreements was a $379,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant aimed at educating transgender and queer urban farmers in the San Francisco Bay Area about “food justice” and values-aligned markets—a move hailed by supporters as a strike against wasteful spending but criticized by others as an attack on marginalized communities.
The cuts, part of DOGE’s broader mission to eliminate perceived government excess, also included grants for studies on cannabis use among gender-diverse individuals and hormone effects on transgender adolescents, sparking debates over fiscal responsibility, identity politics, and the role of federal funding. This article examines the scope of the cancellations, the specific contracts targeted, and the polarized reactions they’ve provoked.
A Two-Day Spending Purge
DOGE’s announcement, detailed on its official website and amplified via social media, marked a rapid escalation in the Trump administration’s cost-cutting crusade. Fox News reported that the 239 contracts, terminated between March 11 and 12, spanned multiple agencies, with a combined potential value of $1.7 billion—though the actual savings, pegged at $400 million, reflect funds already committed or unspent. The BBC highlighted the scale of the purge, noting it as one of the most aggressive moves yet by DOGE, a controversial entity tasked with streamlining government operations since Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
CNN underscored the involvement of key figures, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins touting the USDA grant cancellation in a video statement: “We are ending identity politics and refocusing on American farming.” NBC contextualized the cuts within DOGE’s broader efforts, which include slashing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and canceling over 200,000 federal credit cards. The speed and breadth of the action, as reported by The Guardian, signal a deliberate push to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise of rooting out “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
The ‘Food Justice’ Grant and Other Casualties
The canceled USDA grant, valued at $379,000, drew significant attention. Fox News described it as funding “education for queer, trans, and BIPOC urban farmers and consumers about food justice” in the San Francisco Bay Area, framing it as emblematic of frivolous spending. The BBC clarified that “food justice” refers to equitable access to healthy, sustainable food, often tied to social equity initiatives—a concept critics argue has little relevance to core agricultural priorities. Rollins, per CNN, justified the cut as a return to the USDA’s mission of supporting traditional farming, dismissing the grant as an indulgence in “identity politics.”
Other terminated contracts, as listed by DOGE and reported across outlets, included a $699,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to study “cannabis use among sexual minority gender-diverse individuals,” a $620,000 NIH grant for an “LGB+ inclusive teen pregnancy prevention program for transgender boys,” and a $225,000 University of Colorado study on “hormone effects on headaches in transmasculine adolescents.” NBC noted an $8.5 million consulting contract for “fiscal stewardship” also fell under the axe, aimed at improving government efficiency—ironically, a goal DOGE claims to champion.
DOGE’s Mission: Efficiency or Ideology?
DOGE’s mandate, as articulated by Musk and Trump, is to slash federal spending deemed unnecessary. Fox News celebrated the cuts as a “win for taxpayers,” quoting a DOGE tweet: “Wasteful spending terminated—$400 million saved.” The department’s “Wall of Receipts,” a public ledger of canceled contracts, has become a rallying point for supporters, with Musk emphasizing transparency, per CNN. Yet skepticism abounds. BBC reported expert critiques suggesting the savings figures may be inflated, as “ceiling values” represent maximum potential costs, not actual expenditures—a nuance DOGE’s messaging often glosses over.
NBC highlighted ideological undertones, noting that many canceled contracts align with Trump’s campaign rhetoric against DEI and progressive social programs. The transgender farmer grant, in particular, fits a pattern of targeting initiatives tied to gender and racial equity, a move critics like former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, cited by NBC, decry as “amateur hour” governance. CNN quoted a former federal contracting official calling DOGE’s approach “completely disingenuous,” arguing that canceling pre-approved contracts disrupts agency operations without guaranteed savings.
Political Firestorm: Praise and Pushback
Reactions split sharply along partisan lines. Fox News framed the cancellations as a triumph of fiscal conservatism, with commentators applauding Musk and Trump for tackling “nonsense” spending. Posts on X, cited by The Economic Times, echoed this sentiment, with users like @KzooIn
calling the contracts “ludicrous.” Agriculture Secretary Rollins’ cancellation of the food justice grant was lauded by conservative outlets like The Daily Mail as a blow to “woke” excess, aligning with Trump’s base.
Conversely, progressive voices condemned the cuts. The BBC reported outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates, who argued the transgender farmer grant supported vulnerable urban communities—a small but symbolic investment in equity. CNN cited critics warning that axing research grants, like those on cannabis and transgender health, stifles scientific progress and marginalizes already underserved groups. NBC noted Democratic lawmakers’ concerns that DOGE’s unilateral actions bypass congressional oversight, with one anonymous official telling The Guardian the cuts reflect “slash-and-burn” governance over reasoned reform.
The Numbers Game: Savings or Smoke?
The $400 million savings claim has faced scrutiny. CNN’s review of federal procurement data suggested DOGE often cites maximum contract values rather than actual obligated funds, inflating perceived gains. For instance, the $8.5 million consulting contract, per NBC, was listed as a “ceiling value” cut, but its real savings remain unclear. BBC pointed to a prior DOGE error—claiming $8 billion saved on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract later corrected to $8 million—as evidence of shaky accounting.
Fox News countered that even if immediate savings are modest, halting auto-renewing contracts prevents future waste—a point echoed by a White House official to The Associated Press. Yet, The Guardian noted that terminating grants like the USDA’s could disrupt ongoing projects, potentially costing more to restart later. The debate underscores a tension between DOGE’s bold claims and the murky reality of federal budgeting.
Broader Context: DOGE’s Track Record
This latest purge builds on DOGE’s earlier efforts. CNN reported the department has claimed $55 billion in total savings since January, though only $8.6 billion is detailed on its website—a discrepancy DOGE attributes to incomplete reporting. NBC highlighted past cuts, like $373 million in Education Department DEI grants and $1.9 billion recovered from Housing and Urban Development, as evidence of its aggressive stance. Fox News praised the cancellation of 200,000 federal credit cards, framing it as a curb on bureaucratic excess.
However, inaccuracies plague DOGE’s narrative. BBC and The Associated Press noted that nearly 40% of prior cancellations yielded no immediate savings, often targeting already-spent funds or indefinite delivery contracts. CNN exposed errors, like mischaracterizing a $600,000 USDA grant on menstrual health as transgender-focused, leading to its cancellation—a mistake CBS News later debunked. Such missteps fuel accusations, per NBC, that DOGE prioritizes optics over substance.
Implications for Farmers and Beyond
The transgender farmer grant’s demise resonates beyond its dollar value. BBC reported it aimed to support urban agriculture—a growing sector—while addressing equity in food systems, a priority for San Francisco’s diverse population. Its cancellation, per CNN, risks alienating small-scale farmers and queer communities reliant on such initiatives. Fox News dismissed these concerns, arguing federal funds should bolster rural, not urban, agriculture—a view Rollins reinforced.
Wider ripple effects loom. NBC suggested that slashing research grants could hinder health innovations, while The Guardian warned of morale hits among federal workers facing DOGE’s scrutiny. Conversely, Fox News posited that refocusing agencies on “core missions” could streamline government, a goal Musk and Trump champion.
Conclusion: A Divisive Efficiency Drive
DOGE’s cancellation of 239 contracts, including the high-profile “food justice” grant, encapsulates a polarizing moment in Trump’s presidency. As reported by BBC, CNN, NBC, Fox News, and others, the March 13 announcement blends fiscal zeal with ideological fervor, saving $400 million while igniting debates over waste versus worth. For supporters, it’s a victory against bureaucratic bloat; for critics, it’s a shortsighted assault on equity and science. As of March 14, 2025, the fallout remains fluid—savings figures are contested, and the human cost is unfolding. Whether DOGE’s axe sharpens government efficiency or merely carves political points, its impact will echo through America’s fiscal and social landscape.
