The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has pulled millions of dollars in grants previously earmarked for left-wing initiatives focused on “toxic masculinity,” “systemic racism,” and other progressive causes. The move comes as part of a broader effort by Bondi to cut waste and refocus DOJ spending on core law enforcement priorities.
Described as “wave one,” the cuts targeted 360 different programs and grants, according to the Daily Wire. Before Bondi’s action, taxpayer dollars funded projects such as videotaping black police officers to promote racial equity, exploring ways to “resolve” drug crimes without involving the justice system, and studying “toxic masculinity” in communities.
Bondi announced that “more to come” is expected as the DOJ continues reviewing spending. Among the first cuts detailed was $2 million allocated for “national listening sessions of individuals with lived experience” and nearly $700,000 for a convoluted study assessing LGBTQ liaison services in police departments.
The DOJ clarified that organizations losing funding could reapply if they prove their initiatives “actually help victims of crime as opposed to being a nebulous slush fund for vague liberal causes.” Under this directive, grants promoting vague social theories will no longer be funded without demonstrable results.
One $2 million grant had been designated for a “feminist, culturally specific nonprofit” to research “structural racism and toxic masculinities.” Another $1 million grant targeted systemic racism in drug diversion programs through universal service delivery research.
“Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, the Department of Justice is committed to ensuring its resources are spent on arresting criminals, getting drugs off the streets, and crucial litigation,” DOJ spokesman Gates McGavick said. “We will always protect victims of crime and legitimate law enforcement initiatives, but we will no longer spend millions on ‘listening sessions’ and ‘bridging socio-ecological contexts.’”
The move reflects a broader shift under President Donald Trump’s administration to eliminate taxpayer funding for programs that promote ideological agendas instead of directly addressing crime, victim support, or national security. Bondi’s initiative signals a return to law-and-order priorities, ensuring that federal dollars are spent on concrete results rather than controversial social experiments.
