Cancellation of Controversial Grants

In a significant shift in funding priorities, the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
announced on Wednesday that it has canceled several grants aimed at transgender experiments involving animals.
The announcement was made amidst growing concerns about what DOGE leader Elon Musk
termed “a lot of shady expenditures happening” within federal agencies.

Details of the Canceled Grants

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
had allocated funds for several contentious studies, including a grant of 2,000 intended to “use a mouse model to
investigate the effects of cross-sex testosterone treatment.” Another grant for ,000 was aimed at testing
“feminizing hormone therapy in the male rat.”

These cancellations were highlighted as part of DOGE’s broader commitment to transparency and accountability in government
spending, as well as an effort to align with President Biden’s agenda for government efficiency.

Republican Outcry Over Funding Priorities

Critics within the Republican Party have long opposed the allocation of taxpayer dollars for transgender-related animal studies.
During a recent hearing before the House Committee
on Oversight and Reform, titled “Transgender Lab Rats and Poisoned Puppies: Oversight of Taxpayer Funded Animal Cruelty,”
the issue was brought to the forefront.

Justin Goodman of the White Coat Waste Project (WCW)—a prominent watchdog organization—stated, “The federal government has
spent millions on ‘transgender animal testing,’” asserting that many animals subjected to these experiments have faced severe
treatment, including surgical mutilation and invasive hormone therapies.

The Ramifications of Animal Testing

Goodman elaborated on the implications of such experimentation during the hearing, discussing how mice, rats, and
monkeys are used to examine the biological and psychological effects of gender transitions and hormone therapies.
“These animals are subjected to hormone therapies to mimic transitions, and researchers then assess the effects on
their biological makeup and even their ability to respond to vaccines post-transition,” he noted.

Expansion of Credit Card Audits

In addition to the cancellation of these controversial grants, DOGE has expanded a pilot program aimed at auditing federal
agencies for unused or unnecessary credit cards. According to reports, over a two-week period, 146,000 government
credit cards were deactivated, reflecting a growing effort to streamline government spending.

“At the start of the audit, there were approximately 4.6 million active cards/accounts, so there is still much work to do,”
a DOGE post on X (formerly Twitter) stated.

Future Outlook and Government Spending

Musk highlighted troubling statistics regarding government-issued credit cards during recent discussions, mentioning that many
have limits set at ,000. “There are still almost twice as many credit/purchasing cards as people in the government,
and the limits are ,000! A lot of shady expenditures happening,” he remarked, underscoring the potential for misuse of taxpayer
funds.

Public Health Implications

The DOGE’s efforts are being framed as a broader commitment to advancing public health priorities while also ensuring that taxpayer
dollars are allocated responsibly. In an official statement, the agency emphasized its continued dedication to “advancing biomedical
research under NIH’s priorities and promoting radical transparency.”

As the administration pushes forward with its audit and spending oversight initiatives, it remains to be seen how public opinion
will shift regarding government-funded research, especially in areas as controversial as transgender studies involving animals.