Trump administration cancels at least 68 grants focused on LGBTQ health question

[Jessica_Rose]

Trump administration cancels at least 68 grants focused on LGBTQ health questions

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/trump-administration-cancels-at-least-68-grants-focused-on-lgbtq-health-questions/ar-AA1BzTps?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=a1dfe2a4bc454f38819311f0995f0f96&ei=7

Story by CARLA K. JOHNSON (24 March 2025)

A surge of grant cancellations hit researchers focused on the health of gay, lesbian and transgender people last week, as the Trump administration continues to target what it describes as ideologically driven science.

Last week the U.S. government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions totaling nearly $40 million when awarded, according to a government website.

Most were in some way related to sexual minorities, including research focused on HIV prevention. Other canceled studies centered on cancer, youth suicide and bone health.

Insights from minority populations can increase knowledge that affects everyone, said Simon Rosser, who studies cancer in gay and bisexual men at the University of Minnesota.

"We now no longer have anywhere studying LGBT cancer in the United States," said Rosser, who saw his grants canceled on Friday.

"When you decide to cancel all the grants on sexual minorities, you really slow down scientific discovery, for everyone," Rosser said. Young researchers will lose their jobs, and the field as a whole will suffer, he added.

"It's a loss of a whole generation of science," Rosser said.

Termination letters seen by The Associated Press gave as reasons that the research was "unscientific" or did "nothing to enhance the health of many Americans."

That language felt personal and stinging, McKay said.

"My project's been accused of having no benefit to the American people. And, you know, queer and trans folks are Americans also," McKay said.