EPA Revokes Funding Over DEI Focus
Why this is here: The EPA provided researchers with a specific form and “decision tree” to identify and remove prohibited terms from the grant proposal, illustrating a formalized process for enforcing the new policy.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revoked $15 million in funding from a research project in Tampa, Florida, in May 2025.
The project aimed to address chronic flooding and contaminated drinking water in a predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhood. The EPA terminated the grant because the research prioritized racial and ethnic minorities.
Agency representatives directed researchers to remove terms related to race, ethnicity, culture, and community from their workplan to potentially regain funding. Researchers complied with the request, altering language to comply with the EPA’s “anti-DEI ideology,” but the agency upheld the termination.
Community members expressed disappointment and distrust in the government and the university following the funding loss. Residents stated they had been promised help previously, but doubted this time would be different.