Leaked depositions reveal how Trump's DOGE program slashed DEI funding
Newly released depositions have exposed the inner workings of a controversial federal program aimed at cutting spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Two former employees from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) testified in a lawsuit last year, with their statements made public yesterday. Their accounts reveal how the program slashed funding for cultural and educational projects, including works on the Holocaust and civil rights history.
The DOGE program was created in 2025 under then-President Trump's second term, following an executive order to dismantle what the administration called 'radical and wasteful' DEI programs. The two employees, who reviewed grants for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), described a process where funding was cut arbitrarily. Over 1,400 active NEH grants—about 97% of the agency's portfolio at the time—were terminated, including projects on Holocaust documentation and Black civil rights.
The depositions also showed confusion within DOGE about the definition of DEI itself. When questioned repeatedly, one employee admitted they could not clearly explain what diversity, equity, and inclusion meant. Despite the cuts, the NEH's budget has since faced only proposed reductions, such as a $7 million decrease for fiscal year 2026. Congress later restored full funding through continuing resolutions, leaving the agency's structure unchanged by March 2026.
The released depositions provide a detailed look at how DOGE operated during its push to eliminate DEI-related spending. While the program succeeded in cutting numerous grants, the NEH's overall funding remained stable after congressional intervention. The lawsuit and testimony now serve as a record of the administration's approach to federal cultural and educational projects.
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