The U.S. Department of Transportation has slammed the brakes on $54 million in university grants promoting radical agendas. Under Secretary Sean Duffy, the department axed funding for seven schools pushing divisive diversity, equity, inclusion, and extreme environmental research.
The Daily Wire reported that the decision follows a review by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which targeted wasteful spending. The terminated grants, recently uncovered, supported projects deemed "woke" by Duffy. This move reflects a broader push to refocus federal funds on practical priorities.
The seven universities affected include University of California, Davis, and Johns Hopkins University, among others. Their research focused on topics like equitable transportation and decarbonization, which critics argue stray from transportation’s primary goals.
The administration contends these projects fuel ideological division rather than solve real-world problems.
University of California, Davis, received $12 million for a National Center for Sustainable Transportation. Its research aimed at "accelerating equitable decarbonization," a goal Duffy labeled as part of a "radical green agenda." The administration believes such projects misuse taxpayer dollars.
City College of New York was awarded $9 million for a Center for Social and Economic Mobility. The center studied "equitable transportation for the disadvantaged workforce," which critics say prioritizes ideology over infrastructure. Duffy argues these funds should support tangible transportation improvements.
The University of Southern California’s Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center also lost $9 million.
Its work explored how transportation systems perpetuate inequities, a focus that the administration considers irrelevant to the department’s mission. The grant’s termination underscores a shift toward practical spending.
New York University’s $6 million grant supported research on e-bikes for low-income travelers in transit deserts. While innovative, the project was cut for aligning with what Duffy calls a "woke" framework. The administration favors projects that broadly benefit all Americans.
San Jose State University’s Mineta Consortium received $6 million to study intermodal inequities. Its research claimed auto travel improvements favor wealthier drivers, harming transit-dependent communities. Duffy dismissed this as divisive and disconnected from transportation’s core objectives.
The University of New Orleans’ Center for Transit Oriented Communities also lost $6 million. Its focus on equitable transit-oriented communities and environmental justice was deemed overly ideological. The administration argues such projects distract from building robust infrastructure.
Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Smart Transportation had $6 million revoked. Its climate-focused research included hyperlocal pollution exposure and electric vehicle use for gig workers. Duffy criticized these efforts as extraneous to transportation’s primary goals.
“The previous administration turned the Department of Transportation into the Department of Woke,” Duffy said. He believes the grants fueled divisive narratives rather than addressing practical needs. The terminations aim to restore focus on safety and infrastructure.
“I’ve focused the Department on what matters: safety, making travel great again, and building big, beautiful infrastructure projects,” Duffy added. His vision prioritizes projects that enhance American travel and commerce. The administration sees this as a return to common-sense governance.
The Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with slashing wasteful spending, drove the grant terminations. According to Elon Musk, the department has cut nearly $200 billion in government spending since Trump took office. This reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
“The American people have zero interest in millions of their tax dollars funding research on infrastructure inequality or whether road projects are racist,” Duffy stated. He argues taxpayers deserve spending that delivers measurable results. The grant cuts resonate with working-class Americans tired of elite-driven agendas.