The End of “Woke” Grants: A New Direction for the Department of Transportation
In a bold move reflecting a shift in priorities, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced the cancellation of $54 million in grants at the Department of Transportation (DOT) that he deems excessively aligned with a “radical DEI and green agenda.” These grants, aimed at addressing issues like decarbonization and gender safety, have been labeled as counterproductive to the department’s objectives.
According to an exclusive report by The Daily Wire, the Department’s decision stems from a belief that these funds were misallocated and strayed from the core mission of the DOT.
In Washington, the DOT is terminating $54 million worth of what it calls “woke university grants.” Duffy articulated that these funds were promoting agendas that contradicted the established goals of the Trump administration.
“The American people have zero interest in millions of their tax dollars funding research on the intersection of gender non-conforming people and infrastructure inequality or whether road improvement projects are racist,” Duffy stated firmly. “It’s time to inject a dose of reality back into our higher education system, which begins with ending these wasteful and divisive grants.”
Among the terminated grants, one notable project from the San Jose State University’s Mineta Consortium for Emerging, Efficient, and Safe Transportation had received $6 million for research into “intermodal inequities.” This project aimed to explore how improvements in auto travel might disproportionately benefit wealthier, often white drivers, potentially undermining transit systems that serve lower-income, often BIPOC communities. It also sought to use crowdsourcing to enhance safety for women and gender non-conforming individuals in public transport settings.
Secretary Duffy emphasized a renewed focus for the DOT, condemning the previous administration’s approach: “The last administration turned the Department of Transportation into the Department of Woke,” he asserted. “My priority is to ensure our focus is on safety, improving travel experiences, and constructing grand, impactful infrastructure projects.”
.@USDOT is injecting a dose of reality back into the higher education system.⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/pWqf5QBHKX pic.twitter.com/xQeb7tF5Ve
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) May 2, 2025
