Grant cancellations hit researchers focused on the health of gay, lesbian, and transgender people in mid-March, as the Trump administration targets what it describes as ideologically driven science. Most grants 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. Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said HHS is “dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science.”
One canceled project at Vanderbilt University had been following the overall health of more than 1,200 LGBTQ people aged 50 and older. Most of the money was spent from the grant but it was up for renewal in April. Still, the Vanderbilt project generated two dozen published papers, including work used to train doctors to provide better care to LGBTQ people, improving preventive care which saves money and lives. Insights from minority populations can increase benefit everyone. The war on Woke, like any war, is bound to cost human lives.
