DOGE AI Cuts: ChatGPT Used to Target DEI Grants Worth $100M

Documents obtained by the New York Times reveal that two employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) used ChatGPT to identify National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants worth over $100 million for cancellation based on their connections to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The documents show how artificial intelligence was deployed to systematically review previously approved grants, with the AI flagging those containing keywords or themes related to DEI. This automated review process aligned with the Trump administration's agenda to eliminate federal funding for programs deemed to promote DEI.

According to the reporting by Jennifer Schuessler, the AI-assisted review resulted in the cancellation of most previously approved NEH grants. The use of ChatGPT for this purpose represents a novel application of AI in government decision-making, raising questions about the role of automated systems in determining which research and cultural programs receive federal support.

The targeted grants spanned various humanities projects, many of which had already undergone traditional peer review and approval processes before being flagged by the AI system. The documents suggest that the AI was specifically trained or prompted to identify grants with potential DEI connections, though the exact methodology remains unclear.

This approach to grant review marks a significant shift in how federal agencies may evaluate funding decisions, potentially allowing for rapid, large-scale reviews that would be impractical through manual review alone. However, it also raises concerns about the accuracy and fairness of using AI to make determinations about complex social and cultural issues.

The revelation comes amid broader debates about the use of AI in government operations and the Trump administration's stance on DEI initiatives across federal agencies. The NEH cuts represent one of the most concrete examples of AI being used to implement policy priorities at scale.

For more details, see the full report: Documents show how A.I. was used to cancel most previously approved grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities as the agency embraced President Trump's agenda