The Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture has officially canceled a $600,000 grant that was set to fund research on the menstruation cycles of trans-identified females.
The grant was originally awarded to Southern University of Agricultural and Mechanical College in Louisiana but was halted after reports surfaced earlier this year. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed the cancellation, writing on X: “CANCELLED: $600,000 grant to study ‘menstrual cycles in transgender men.’”
The grant summary acknowledged that biological females, including those who identify as transgender men, non-binary, or intersex, experience menstruation. The study aimed to “address growing concerns” surrounding menstruation and was initially scheduled to continue through April 2027.
The funding was uncovered by the American Principles Project, a conservative nonprofit that identified over 340 Biden-era grants awarded to institutions across the U.S., including hospitals and universities. In total, these grants accounted for more than $128 million in taxpayer spending.
Trump’s decision to cancel the study aligns with his administration’s broader efforts to cut funding for left-wing social programs and redirect federal spending toward economic and national security priorities. The move has been praised by conservatives who view such grants as unnecessary taxpayer expenditures.
Critics of the grant argued that it represented wasteful government spending and an unnecessary use of taxpayer dollars. Many conservatives questioned why the Department of Agriculture was funding research unrelated to farming, food production, or rural development. Others pointed out that biological realities do not change based on gender identity, making the study’s premise politically driven rather than scientifically necessary.
Supporters of the study, however, contended that research into menstruation among transgender individuals could provide valuable medical insights. They claimed the study aimed to help healthcare providers better understand the unique health challenges faced by transgender men. Despite these arguments, the Trump administration remained firm in its decision to cancel the grant, signaling a broader shift in government funding priorities away from identity-based research and toward core policy issues.
